Information and Storage
(Applicants: You can only choose this Focus Area if you have also chosen
a Discipline)
With our focus on the mechanical
aspects of computer technology, specifically data storage devices, our current
Computer Mechanics Program has sub-divisions in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics,
tribology, instrumentation development, experimentation, numerical simulation,
and analysis, servo systems and MEMS devices.
Our faculty is working on developments
of laser motion-based measurement systems, ultramicroindentation of thin films,
tribological and materials studies of 5 nm protective overcoats for thin film
magnetic media disks, and the numerical simulation of related issues. The laboratory,
a state-of-the-art facility, is equipped with cutting edge computational hardware.
Faculty members involved in Computer
Mechanics Program are D. Bogy,
R. Horowitz, K.
Komvopoulos and M.
Tomizuka.
Research Areas
- Numerical simulation and theoretical
analysis of air bearing slider dynamics
- Optical measurement of head-disk
dynamics
- Modal and damping analysis of
slider-suspension assembly
- Stability of rotating disk-suspension
systems
- Slider and disk metrology
- Head/disk interface adhesion
and stiction
- Thin film disk lubrication, wear
durability and tribochemistry
- Friction and wear of ceramics
- Sliding damage mechanisms of
thin-film media
- Finite element studies of various
contact problems with layered media
- Stiction of microelectromechanical
systems
- Tribology of ion implanted thin
films
- Plasma enhanced CVD of diamond
films
- Fabrication and testing of 2
nm cathodic arc carbon overcoats
- Atomic force and scanning tunneling
microscopy studies
- Nanoscale friction interactions
- Optically based velocity measurement
techniques
- Computational flow and heat transfer
- Development of synergistic (computational/experimental)
research methodologies
- Optimization of thermofluids
performance in computer equipment
- Self-tuning and adaptive control
of disk file servos and other positioning systems
- Repetitive and learning control
of disk file servos
- Dual stage actuator design and
control
- Vibration isolation of optical
disk drive systems
- Design, fabrication and control
of polysilicon microactuators and microsensors for disk file systems
Research Facilities
- Multi-channel laser interferometer,
several LDV systems
- Modal analysis systems
- Surface profilometer and interfero-
metric microscopes
- Scanning probe microscopes, AFM,
STM, PCM
- Nano indentation systems
- Environmental testing chamber
- Contact start/stop testers
- Pin-on-disk type testers
- Dedicated rotating disks flow
apparatus admitting two-way ventilation and the insertion of obstructions
- Laser-Doppler velocimeter and
associated instrumentation
- Latest release computer workstations
and PCs