Speaker
Description
This paper investigates the substitution of traditional ribbed piano soundboards with an equivalent single-ply structure while preserving key acoustical and mechanical characteristics. Piano soundboards play a crucial role in sound radiation, inter-string coupling, and overall tonal quality, all of which are strongly influenced by geometry and material properties. With the decreasing availability of high-quality tonewood and increasing interest in sustainable and cost-effective alternatives, engineered materials and optimized design methods are gaining importance.Building on prior findings that sound quality can be described through quantitative indicators linked to soundboard admittance and modal behavior, this work focuses on replicating these properties in a simplified structure. A two-step estimation approach is applied: first, ribs are replaced by an equivalent transversely isotropic layer, and second, the effective properties of the resulting laminate are determined.The proposed method systematically derives a one-ply equivalent model and evaluates its performance through modal analysis and admittance comparison. Although the resulting parameters are hypothetical and not yet validated for physical realization, the study yields to offer a conceptual framework for future development of alternative piano soundboard designs.