Interferometric studies of a piano soundboard

Electronic speckle pattern interferometry has been used to study the deflection shapes of a piano soundboard. A design for an interferometer that can image such an unstable object is introduced, and interferograms of a piano soundboard obtained using this interferometer are presented. Deflection shapes are analyzed and compared to a finite element model, and it is shown that the force the strings exert on the soundboard is important in determining the mode shapes and resonant frequencies. Measurements of resonance frequencies and driving point impedance made using the interferometer are also presented

Influence of wall vibrations on the sound of brass wind instruments

The results of an experimental and theoretical investigation of the influence of wall vibrations on the sound of brass wind instruments are presented. Measurements of the transmission function and input impedance of a trumpet, with the bell both heavily damped and freely vibrating, are shown to be consistent with a theory that assumes that the internal pressure causes an oscillation of the diameter of the pipe enclosing the air column. These effects are shown to be most significant in sections where there are flaring walls, which explains why damping these vibrations in cylindrical pipes normally produces no measurable effects

The limitations on applying classical thin plate theory to thin annular plates clamped on the inner boundary

The experimentally measured resonance frequencies of a thin annular plate with a small ratio of inner to outer radii and clamped on the inner boundary are compared to the predictions of classical thin-plate (CTP) theory and a finite-element (FE) model. The results indicate that, contrary to the conclusions presented in a number of publications, CTP theory does not accurately predict the frequencies of a relatively small number of resonant modes at lower frequencies. It is shown that these inaccuracies are attributable to shear deformations, which are thought to be negligible in thin plates and are neglected in CTP theory. Of particular interest is the failure of CTP theory to accurately predict the resonance frequency of the lowest vibrational mode, which was shifted approximately 30% by shear motion at the inner boundary

A Simple and Inexpensive Optical Technique to Help Students Visualize Mode Shapes

An imaging technique is introduced that is suitable for visualizing the mode shapes of vibrating structures in an educational setting. The method produces images similar to those obtained using electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) but it can be implemented for less than 1=10 the cost of a commercial ESPI system, and the apparatus is simple enough that it can be constructed by undergraduate students. This technique allows for real-time visualization of the normal modes and detection shapes of harmonically vibrating structures, including those with shapes that make generating Chladni patterns with sand or powder impossible. The theory of operation and construction details are discussed

Imaging of vibrating objects using speckle subtraction

A simple method for imaging vibrational motion is proposed. The process consists of capturing two speckled images of a region illuminated by coherent radiation. One of the images is captured before the onset of motion and the other during motion. If the mean speckle intensity is below the threshold for detection or above the saturation intensity of the detector, subtracting the two images produces a high contrast image of the moving region. A theory is shown to agree well with experimental data

Transient motion of a circular plate after an impact

The transient response of a flat circular plate to a sudden impact has been studied experimentally and theoretically. High-speed electronic speckle pattern interferometry reveals the presence of pulses that travel around the edge of the plate ahead of the bending motion initiated by the strike. It is found that the transient motion of the plate is well described by Kirchhoff thin-plate theory over a time approximately equal to the time required for the initial impulse to circumvent the plate; however, a more sophisticated model is required to describe the motion after this time has elapsed

A model for transition of 5 '-nuclease domain of DNA polymerase I from inert to active modes

Bacteria contain DNA polymerase I (PolI), a single polypeptide chain consisting of similar to 930 residues, possessing DNA-dependent DNA polymerase, 3'-5' proofreading and 5'-3' exonuclease (also known as flap endonuclease) activities. PolI is particularly important in the processing of Okazaki fragments generated during lagging strand replication and must ultimately produce a double-stranded substrate with a nick suitable for DNA ligase to seal. PolI's activities must be highly coordinated both temporally and spatially otherwise uncontrolled 5'-nuclease activity could attack a nick and produce extended gaps leading to potentially lethal double-strand breaks. To investigate the mechanism of how PolI efficiently produces these nicks, we present theoretical studies on the dynamics of two possible scenarios or models. In one the flap DNA substrate can transit from the polymerase active site to the 5'-nuclease active site, with the relative position of the two active sites being kept fixed; while the other is that the 5'-nuclease domain can transit from the inactive mode, with the 5'-nuclease active site distant from the cleavage site on the DNA substrate, to the active mode, where the active site and substrate cleavage site are juxtaposed. The theoretical results based on the former scenario are inconsistent with the available experimental data that indicated that the majority of 5'-nucleolytic processing events are carried out by the same PolI molecule that has just extended the upstream primer terminus. By contrast, the theoretical results on the latter model, which is constructed based on available structural studies, are consistent with the experimental data. We thus conclude that the latter model rather than the former one is reasonable to describe the cooperation of the PolI's polymerase and 5'-3' exonuclease activities. Moreover, predicted results for the latter model are presented

Proposing new variables for the identification of strategic groups in franchising

The identification of strategic groups in the Spanish franchising area is the main aim of this study. The authors have added some new strategic variables (not used before) to the study and have classified franchisors between sectors and distribution strategy. The results reveal the existence of four perfectly differentiated strategic groups (types of franchisors). One of the major implications of this study is that the variables that build a strategic group vary depending on the respective sector the network operates in and its distribution strategy. This fact indicates that including sector and distribution strategy is absolutely necessary to achieve good classifications of franchisor type