Bob, Interesting that you should consider the use of composite materials. I have a customer that spent 30 years in that industry before selling the business and retiring to a life of sailboat racing, etc. His first success was in the late 60s as the designer of the Chaparal race car chassis. You may recall that it was constructed of all composite materials. Since his first love is sailing, he has designed many of the high-tech America's Cup yachts and many other racing boats constructed from composite materials. The entire 2nd floor of his modest, 3-story waterfront home is filled with trophies and photos of his accomplishments. Like your new engineering friend, he's an interesting cat. Anyway, I suggested that he consider the use of composite materials in the manufacture of say, soundboards, bridges and/or pin blocks. (Especially since he drove me nuts wanting to know each thing I did as I rebuilt his piano.) He stated that he has given some thought to the idea, and determined that composite material exhibits too much "creep" to be used for sound boards, etc. He says that composite materials tend to take on a "set" based on loading factor at rest. A desirable feature in the manufacture of auto chassis and yacht hulls, but not acceptable in sound boards. He thinks that the board would take a set and behave as if it were "dead" even though it exhibited a measurable crown. Run this by your friend. I'd be interested in his thoughts. Danny Moore http://www.setexas.com/danmoore/ robert sadowski wrote: > Dear List, > Happy Easter to all. Through my future wife I have struck up a > friendship with an engineer whose expertise is in the area of new > materials - carbon fibre, etc. We had a long conversation about pianos, > soundboards and such. He is fascinated by the choice of materials used in > piano construction and of course asked the question - why can't other > materials be used to replace spruce in soundboards. He asked me to try and > locate sources of data concerning stresses, density, mass, and how > soundboards in general do what they do. Any suggestions as to published > sources? > > Thanks, > > Bob Sadowski
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