Carbon copying the ’Stradivarius’ sound

PA 238/09 It's every violinmaker's dream to produce an instrument to rival the sound of a Stradivarius but now researchers at The University of Nottingham are trying to do just that.. using acoustic physics and carbon fibre engineering. The scientists at the University's Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering have developed a carbon fibre violin which could revolutionise the classical stringed instrument industry. Violins are traditionally made of wood using techniques and designs that are hundreds of years old but this new project aims quite literally to create a 'carbon copy' of the top-grade wooden instrument. Some modern stringed instruments have been made out of composite materials including a carbon fibre laminate, but the scientists say little significant research has been carried out on how to create a consistent, high-quality sound with robust and hardwearing manmade materials. Special Professor John Dominy has been working with violin-maker Peter Killingback and a team of researchers to produce a prototype carbon fibre violin which he has just unveiled at the International Conference on Composite Materials in Edinburgh.