Acoustics of a cavity-backed membrane: The Indian musical drum
Rama Bhat · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1991
The acoustics of a cavity-backed composite membrane is analyzed under the assumptions that the cavity air pressure on the membrane is uniform, and hence sustains only axisymmetric membrane modes under impact excitation of the membrane. Axisymmetric modes of the membrane possess a harmonic relationship among themselves under certain parameter combinations. This mathematical model is chosen to explain the presence of harmonic overtones that are present in the Indian musical drum Mridanga, when struck with a characteristic stroke. Experimentally measured sound spectra from Mridanga when it is impact excited with different stroke patterns are also provided.