Integration of FEA and EMA techniques for percussion instrument design analysis

Percussion instruments are frequently used in musical performance. The percussion sound radiation characteristics are strongly related to structural vibration modes. This paper presents the approach of virtual testing (VT) by the integration of finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental modal analysis (EMA) techniques for the design analysis of several types of percussion instruments. First, the procedure for model verification is introduced and shown the basic principle for validating the finite element model by adopting FEA software and performing EMA. The sound spectrum of percussion instrument can then be measured to identify the most contributed structural modes and compared with those modal parameters obtained from FEA and EMA. Three types of percussion instruments, including a xylophone bar, a metallophone plate and a gong, are shown to demonstrate the idea of VT for the redesign of new type of percussion instruments. This paper shows how the structural modal properties affecting the radiated sound of percussion instruments and reveals the philosophy for geometry modification to achieve the target designs of percussion instruments.