Friction and wear of spindle motor hydrodynamic bearings for information storage systems during startup and shutdown

This paper investigates the friction and wear characteristics of two typical hydrodynamic bearings for hard disk drive (HDD) spindle motors (SPM), i.e., the herringbone groove and multi-taper bearings, during start-up and shut-down transient operation. The friction characteristics are calculated by a lubricated friction model which is an extension of Kogut and Etsion’s dry friction model (a modified version of the CEB model), while the wear characteristics are qualitatively evaluated in non-dimensional form by the semi-analytical wear model proposed by Holm–Archard. The average flow Reynolds equation and the pressure-compliance relationship of elastic–plastic roughness contact are used together to consider the combined effects of partial lubrication and asperity contact occurring during start-up and shut-down. Then, the friction and wear characteristics of the herringbone groove and multi-taper bearings are calculated and compared under the condition of HDD application.