Bissinger This award provides partial support for the development of a computer based application system (VIOCAD) to be used for acoustical string instrument design using a materials based program. VIOCAD will be used to measure acoustical string instruments with varied materials, mechanical designs, and acoustic properties, and will be capable of predicting sound quality through measurement of elastic moduli, density, geometry, and damping properties of materials used to make the instruments. The VIOCAD will be used to measure a violin designed with new materials such as composites, laminates, metal materials, or combinations, involving the basic materials properties of the instrument, and the fundamental production of sound in the materials from which the instrument is constructed. Acoustic simulations will be compared with measurements on violins. In principle, this project will attempt to quantify the quality of sound produced by a violin made of varied materials. There is industrial interest and support, as well as international interest. Part of the project involves setting up a database by making measurements of instruments. Potential uses of VIOCAD include materials applications and investigations of new materials, design of instruments, and testing of the mechanical-acoustical properties of instruments. VIOCAD will be accessible through campus computer terminals and will be used by students and faculty at East Carolina University. %%% ***
