The Effect of Steaming and Moisture Content Change on The Resonance Frequency of Wood

Authors

  • William D. Rice
  • R. W. Rice

Keywords:

Moisture content, wood, vibration characteristics

Abstract

The vibrational characteristics of wood play an important part in the tonal characteristics of woodwinds and stringed instruments such as pianos and guitars. In this series of experiments, the effect of steaming on the peak or resonance frequency was assessed and compared to the resonance frequency of samples that were not steamed but had undergone moisture content changes. The results were clear. Steaming produced a significant shift in the peak frequency whereas measurements of peak frequency before and after moisture content change, without steaming, did not produce a significant change. The results of these experiments may affect the preparation of wood for use in musical instruments.

References

Bucur, V. 1995. Acoustics of wood. CRC Press, New York, NY. 284 pp.nDen Hartog, J. P. 1985. Mechanical vibrations. Dover Publications, New York, NY. 436 pp.nFletcher, N. H., and T. D. Rossing. 1991. The physics of musical instruments. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. Pp. 53-54.nFlory, P. J. 1953. Principles of polymer chemistry. Cornell University Press. Pp. 439-476.nSimpson, W. T. 1991. Dry kiln operators manual. U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington, DC. Pp. 12-13, 25.n

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Published

2007-06-05

Issue

Number 4 / October 2003

Section

Research Contributions

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