Performance comparison of violins through experimental force analyses
Enrico Ravina, Paolo Silvestri, Federico Lowenberger · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2008
The paper describes the most recent experiments developed on violins with different mounting (baroque, classical, modern) and specifically oriented to the dynamic forces analysis in significant points of the instruments. The vibrational behaviour of the soundboards are strongly influenced by the dynamic forces transmitted from the bridge: they are related also to the tension of the strings. An original testbench conceived to forces measurement has been set up: tensions on strings, forces detected under the bridge and deformations on the fingerboard and on the tailpiece are, in particular, monitored by means not intrusive thin-film tactile pressure measurement devices, micro load cells and micro strain gauges. Mapping of forces and strains are acquired in real time playing the instrument; the paper reports comparisons between differently mounted violins, playing notes under different techniques: continuous ("tenuta") , ghost ("strappata"), "detachet". Experiments are developed using different kind of strings (bowels, metallic,...). The results are used as input for experimental dynamic analyses and tests of the soundboard: in addition, they can be correlated to the acoustic response of the instrument.