Ron wrote: >Think, and remember. No one has ever even hinted that the panel is equally >compressed at the top and bottom. It has been stated a number of times that >the panel is compressed more at the bottom than at the top, but the entire >panel is, inescapably, compressed. There just isn't any way around it. You are absolutely correct Ron ....... if you assume that the entire soundboard assembly is constrained from expanding as it takes crown. Such is not the case. If the assembly did not expand, then the ribs would be under NO tension and would be incapable of opposing the load exerted by the soundboard. If the ribs are under tension, they stretch, ergo the assembly does expand. Whether the entire panel is compressed depends on the relative sizes, geometry, and material properties of all components of the entire assembly. Frank Weston
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