Applications of Finite Element Analysis for an Improved Musical Instrument Design

Implementationof finite element analysis and proof of its power as a design to ol to an industry unfamiliar with this type of technology will be demonstrated through the use of MSC/NASTRAN and MSC/ARIES to develop a comprehensive guitar neck system. This system will provide a better playing, better sounding instrument by accounting for the following: −bending and twisting of the neck due to string forces −bending and twisting of the neck due to moisture content expansion forces −the cylindrical orthotropic nature of wood −individual musician’s preferences (neck adjustment capability) −elimination of less resonant "dead spots" which occur for certain notes on the neck Severalanalysis types will be utilized for different steps of the design phase a s follows: −linear static analysis for stability against string and moisture content loads −nonlinear slideline contact analysis for developing the adjustment capability −unstressed and prestressed modal analysis for tuning out "dead spots"