Orthotropic Soundboard (was Laminated Soundboard Ribs)

[Phillip L Ford]

On Wed, 13 Feb 2002 12:58:40  
 Ron Nossaman wrote:

>The very fact that a large long stiff heavy bridge is attached to the
>panel (usually roughly parallel to the grain in a traditional solid panel)
>pretty well insures that the assembly won't be truly isotropic, whatever
>else is done to it. 
>Ron N
>

The fact that the bridge is most often oriented in the grain direction of the
board is interesting to me.  As I've said, I'm unconvinced that the board
itself needs to be orthotropic.  But if it is, which it necessarily is if you use
solid wood, is there something magical about the bridge being oriented along
the grain?  On the other hand, since the bridge is a (seemingly) predominate
path for wave propogation is it really necessary that the grain follow the bridge?
As JD mentioned this stuff has been thought about (and probably experimented
with) before.  It would be nice to have access to the data which was gathered.
Too bad the PTG Journal didn't exist in the 1800s.  I'll have to check out
Dolge's Mathusek reference that JD mentioned.

Phil F



Go Get It!
Send FREE Valentine eCards with Lycos Greetings
http://greetings.lycos.com