Natural Frequency Analysis of PZT Glide Heads During Contact

The natural frequencies (NFs) and the corresponding mode shapes of a glide head with a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) mounted on its extended wing have been studied both analytically and experimentally. Finite element analysis results indicate that the extended wing reduces the NFs of the glide head substantially. The manufacturing tolerances of the slider and PZT as well as the PZT bonding location can have a significant effect on the NFs. As the glide head contacts the laser bump texture during the landing process, the NFs of the glide head increase slightly, probably because of the constraint provided by the stiffness of the bumps during the contact. The NFs calculated by finite element analysis show good agreement with the data obtained using two different experimental methods.