Axial Run-Out of a Spinning Flexible Disk Close to a Rotating Rigid Wall

The present work is a numerical and experimental study about the behavior of flexible disks with different thicknesses and different material properties rotating close to fixed and co-rotating rigid flat-stabilizers in open air. The Navier-Stokes equations along with the continuity equation are used to model the fluid flow in the air film between the flexible disk and the rigid stabilizer whereas a linear plate theory is used to model the lateral displacement of the flexible disk. An experimental test-rig is designed to investigate the effects of the rotation speed, the initial gap height and the inlet-hole size on the axial run-out of the different flexible disks. Finally, a comparison between the experimental and the numerical results is made.