This paper studies forced response of PZT glide heads through calibrated experiments and finite element analyses. The PZT glide heads consist of an $Al2O3TiC$ slider and a PZT transducer. In the first part of the research, the PZT transducer serves as an actuator exciting the glide heads from 100 kHz to 1.3 MHz. A laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) and an impedance analyzer are used to measure frequency response functions (FRF) and PZT impedance. In addition, the response of the PZT glide heads is simulated through finite element analyses (FEA). The FEA predict the resonance frequencies with less than 5 percent difference. For the first two slider modes, the FEA also predict resonance amplitudes with good accuracy. In the second part of the research, the PZT transducer serves as a sensor, and the glide head is subjected to an impact force. To produce short impacts experimentally, miniature balls are dropped to the glide heads. The impact force is estimated through the impact duration and the momentum change before and after the impact. Then the impact force and the PZT output voltage are processed to produce FRF. Since the PZT sensor and its circuit form a high-pass filter, the FEA need to consider the slider, the PZT transducer, and the electric circuits simultaneously to produce meaningful results. The FEA predictions agree with the experimental measurements for the first two slider modes as well. [S0742-4787(00)01004-3]

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