Soundboard Thoughts (Kind of long)

[Anne Beetem]

At 01:16 PM 12/11/97 -0500, you wrote:

>Del's theory on the inevitability of case 1. (like the end of the world),
>no matter how cleverly concealed, brings us back to that arrheodictic vs
>rheodictic debate. But in fact that is really irrelevant. Even if wood
>*is* rheodictic, i.e. continues linear creep strain under finite load over
>infinite time...observation of historical artifacts and structures (again)
>implies time dependent creep strain is insignificant over human time
>scales (which is all that really matters). Of course, that applies to
>loads that don't cause failure within a short period of time (2, 3 maybe 10
>years?....as any good design will satisfy. 
>
>Stephen
>
>
>
>

  Susan, "rheo" also refers to flow, and "dicta" to assert. Now with
Stephen's comments above, you can see that the question is whether flow
(linear creep) is inevitable.  

  Stephen, I'd love to hear you expound on some of the differences between
e.g. a 1900  Steinway grand, and an 1825 Graf which may explain why the
Steinway may have a "tired" soundboard, and the Graf still be glorious.  I
have played several old Graf's all wonderfully "alive", my favorite being
the one in the Fritz Neumeyer (followed by Junghans and Tracey)  collection
at Bad Krozingen.  Ah, make me one of those someday Stephen.....

   Anne, who's enjoying this thread ...  


Anne Beetem
Harpsichords & Historic Pianos
2070 Bingham Ct.
Reston, VA  20191
abeetem@wizard.net