Sound production by a vibrating piano soundboard: Experiment

The generation of sound by a piano soundboard is investigated experimentally, through measurements of the sound pressure, p, and the soundboard velocity, upsilon(b), produced in response to a force applied at the bridge. Results for the ratio p/upsilon(b) as a function of frequency, for forces applied perpendicular to the soundboard at different locations (i.e., driving points) on the bridge, are presented. At all locations, p/upsilon(b) is largest at frequencies of order similar to 1 kHz, and falls off below a few hundred Hz and above similar to 5 kHz. A few results obtained with the force applied along the string direction (i.e., parallel to the plane of the soundboard) are also described. These results are compared and contrasted with previous experiments, and with theoretical expectations. (C) 1998 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-4966(98)04409-9]