Sliding contact energy measurement using calibrated acoustic emission transducer

Acoustic emission (AE) transducers are commonly used to monitor the intensity of head-disk contact. However, analytical methods used to obtain electrical energy of the AE output signal and mechanical energy dissipated in typical head-disk contacts are still, to a large extent, not well understood. In the present study we introduce a method to obtain the electrical energy of the AE output voltage signal. In calibration experiments this electrical energy is shown to be directly proportional to the mechanical energy released from the mechanical contact. We have developed analytical models to calculate the energy released from the sliding contact. Some experimental measurements and their correction is also shown.