Physical Modeling of the Piano

Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette IN

Investigators

Abstract

The physics of the piano will be investigated through a combination of experimental measurements and theoretical modeling. One of the primary goals is to develop a computational model of the piano, which will use Newton's laws to calculate a realistic piano tone. The model will be tested an refined by comparison with experimental results for real pianos. When completed, the computational model will enable detailed studies of how different parts of the instrument contribute to the tone, and how changes in the design of the piano would affect the sound produced by the instrument.