Vibro-acoustic modeling, numerical and experimental study of the resonator and its contribution to the timbre of Sarasvati veena, a South Indian stringed instrument

A Review of Finite Element Studies in String Musical Instruments

String instruments are complex mechanical vibrating systems, in terms of both structure and fluid–structure interaction. Here, a review study of the modeling and simulation of stringed musical instruments via the finite element method (FEM) is presented. The paper is focused on the methods capable of simulating (I) the soundboard behavior in bowed, plucked and hammered string musical instruments; (II) the assembled musical instrument box behavior in bowed and plucked instruments; (III) the fluid–structure interaction of assembled musical instruments; and (IV) the interaction of a musical instrument’s resonance box with the surrounding air. Due to the complexity and the high computational demands, a numerical model including all the parts and the full geometry of the instrument resonance box, the fluid–structure interaction and the interaction with the surrounding air has not yet been simulated.

Status and future of modeling of musical instruments: Introduction to the JASA special issue

Over the last decades, physics-based modeling of musical instruments has seen increased attention. In 2020 and 2021, the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America accepted submissions for a special issue on the modeling of musical instruments. This article is intended as an introduction to the special issue. Our purpose is to discuss the role that modeling plays in the study of musical instruments, the kinds of things one hopes to learn from modeling studies, and how that work informs traditional experimental and theoretical studies of specific instruments. We also describe recent trends in modeling and make some observations about where we think the field is heading. Overall, our goal is to place the articles in the special issue into a context that helps the reader to better understand and appreciate the field.