Re: Re: Re: Re: thin vs thick metal horns


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Posted by Rick Denney on February 05, 2001 at 12:13:40:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: thin vs thick metal horns posted by Tom on February 04, 2001 at 10:26:41:

"Age-hardening" is a myth with metals. "Work-hardening" is what you mean, but it affects yield strength only and not stiffness. A tuba bell that rings when first shaped will ring just the same after it is annealed. But the "harder" bell, if it has considerable residual stresses (which are relieved by annealing) will be harder to damp by external means (such as holding it with your hand).

The thickness affects how much the material moves in response to vibrational stress, because a thinner structure is less stiff (even though the material, as a material, has the same stiffness). A heavier bell requires more energy to move, but (and here is the relevant point), has a different resonant frequency. It is likely that the Conn bells to which Joe refers are resonant at critical frequencies when thick and not when thin.

It is also likely that this is an accident of the design which is unlikely to say anything useful about any other horn.

Rick "trying to understand ALL relevant factors" Denney


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