Modal Analysis

[Phillip L Ford]

Yes, that does seem like a good idea.  What I'm not sure about is if the downbearing
from the strings changes significantly as the board moves up and down.  If so, then
your device wouldn't account for that effect if it is significant.  I suppose one could
test this on a piano.  Do the modal analysis with a complete piano.  Remove the
strings, put on your device and run the modal analysis again and see if the results
are close.

Phil F
---
Phillip Ford
Piano Service & Restoration
1777 Yosemite Ave - 215
San Francisco, CA  94124


On Wed, 5 Dec 2001 23:15:18   
 John Delacour wrote:
>At 10:07 PM +0000 12/5/01, Phillip L Ford wrote:
>
>>I'm trying to think of how one could construct a test piano with a 
>>clearer view of the soundboard.  My first thought was transparent 
>>aluminum (a la Star Trek).  However, since I don't think it exists 
>>as yet I'm still thinking.
>
>I haven't been following the modal discussion too closely, but a 
>solution to this did seem fairly easy.  Since the designer has a 
>pretty good idea what the downbearing of the strings on the bridges 
>is going to be, surely this downbearing could be reproduced with 
>seven or eight cheap hydraulic rams each having a horizontal bar 
>centred on a clevis at the end of the pistons and faced with rubber 
>strips.  The pressure could then be distributed in a very similar way 
>over the bridges.  No?
>
>JD
>
>