Finite Element in Music

A finite-element reconstruction showing one of the acoustically important structural modes of the body of a violin is shown in the picture. The snapshot view shows, on a much exaggerated scale, the highly asymmetric vertical displacements and flexural vibrations of the instrument. The results were obtained when the displacement was at its maximum. Note that vibrations of all parts of the instrument are involved in the resonant mode. In particular, the resonances of the front and back plates cannot be considered in isolation from the rest of the instrument, as has often been assumed in the past.

Source: Physics Web