A finite element analysis of the violin body
George Knott · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1985
The normal modes of a violin body were studied using finite element methods. The NASTRAN finite-element analysis package and PATRAN-G pre/post-processor graphics software were the workhorses for this “computer laboratory” investigation. Free finite-element top and back plates were first “tuned” to generally accepted parameters and were then assembled into a complete body consisting of the plates, bassbar, sound post, and end blocks. The normal modes of the finite-element body compare favorably with those obtained from an impact hammer modal test on a real violin. Animated graphics of the normal modes, which provide significant insight into the physics of the violin structure, will be presented.