Discussion on violin structure by using vibration energy flow

Abstract

Experimental Statistical Energy Analysis (ESEA) is applied to analyze the vibration energy flow on violin body. The violin body is subdivided into six SEA subsystems. The analysis can identify the power flow through the subsystems and the power input into each subsystem under the impact excitation at the bridge which connects the strings and the body. The analysis results for two kinds of violin are compared. It is shown that three pieces of knowledge regarding better violin are obtained as the folio wings, 1) damping of the body structure is small, 2) the frequency distribution of power input into the body is in inverse proportion to square root of frequency and 3) the vibration energy on the back plate is propagating only from the top plate through the sound post. © 2012 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.