Analysis of plain wire string/wound wire break on a Steinway Model B with MiniMens 1.0.6

Bernhard Stopper b98tu@t-online.de
Fri, 9 Apr 2004 19:31:38 +0200


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MiniMens piano string simulator introduces the new "contact ratio" =
parameter for analyzing the break in the scale from blank strings to =
wrapped strings.

On the lower strings, it is possible that the hammer has multiple =
contacts with the string. (see contact force graph)

contact force history for key F-21, string length 1475 mm (58 inch) =
diameter Nr. 20 (Steinway model B) hammer speed 3 m/s. The single peak =
at 11 ms indicates the recontact of the string with the hammer, when the =
wave arrives the hammer after the bridge reflection.

Contact ratio means contact time of all contacts of the hammer with the =
string, divided by the time, the wave needs to run from the hammer to =
the bridge and back to the hammer. If the time is equal, the ratio =
becomes 1.0, what means that the hammer is in a synchronous movement =
with the string. A lower contact ratio will produce a more partial =
pronounced tone, whereas a higher contact ratio increases the losses of =
the higher partials.

It has been found, that on good instruments (like the Steinway Model B =
or D) the wires are always choosen in that way that this contact ratio =
has nearly the same value (but only true when considering all contacts). =
Changing only 1 diameter of the copper wire more or less, will already =
produce different contact ratios. Since it was not possible to do =
dynamic simulations at the time when this scales where designed, one =
must assume that the best fit was found by try. It is amazing to find =
with dynamic simulation the proove that the scale designers had found =
the best wire combination.=20

(first numeric field is contact time, second field ist wave time)

=20
original contact ratio (0,64) for F21:=20
string length 1475 mm (58 inch) diameter 1,125 mm (0,0443 inch)



original contact ratio (0,64) for E20: (contact times and wave times are =
different)
string length 1025 mm (40,35 inch) core wire 0,95mm (0,0374 inch) wound =
wire 0,55 mm (0,0217 inch)=20



modified contact ratio for E-20 (red marker for E-20, blue marker for =
F-21):
string length 1025 mm (40,35 inch) core wire 0,95mm (0,0374 inch) wound =
wire 0,6 mm (0,0236 inch)=20



modified contact ratio for E-20 (red marker for E-20, blue marker for =
F-21):
string length 1025 mm (40,35 inch) core wire 0,95mm (0,0374 inch) wound =
wire 0,5 mm (0,0197 inch)=20

The contact ratio parameter together with inharmonicity are very =
important paramters that will limit the number of wire combinations at =
the scale break and helps greatly to reduce sound differences at this =
most delicate part of the scale.

Best regards

Bernhard Stopper
Klavierbaumeister

Info about the MiniMens/Mensurix Software at:
http://www.piano-stopper.de/html/homepe.htm

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