Aging mechanism of the acoustic vibration characteristics of Jinghu sound boxes with different preservation ages
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: To elucidate the material science principles underlying the empirical belief that aged bamboo yields superior acoustics, this study investigates aging-induced changes in the acoustic performance of Jinghu, a traditional Chinese bowed-string instrument, using bamboo soundboxes subjected to three natural aging durations: 86 years (XP-86), 46 years (XP-46), and 3 years (XP-3). A multi-scale approach that spans macro-to-micro dimensions and structural-to-compositional perspectives was employed to characterize vibrational efficiency and timber quality. Long-term natural aging effectively minimizes internal interfacial energy dissipation. XP-86 exhibited the optimal synergy between stiffness and damping, achieving superior vibration transmission and tonal depth. Compared with XP-3, XP-86 exhibited a higher natural frequency (2417.50 Hz) and dynamic modulus of elasticity (9.70 GPa), while maintaining lower damping, a smoother frequency response, and more uniform modal distribution. Therefore, XP-86 showed the best overall stiffness–damping balance rather than the maximum value for every individual parameter. These enhancements stem from structural-compositional co-evolution. Specifically, the microfibril angle (MFA) decreased from 6.51° to 6.18°, optimizing the conductive framework. Degradation of starch granules reduced non-elastic friction loss. At the chemical level, hemicellulose degradation and lignin condensation and densification, as indicated by decreases in β-O-4 linkages and the syringyl-to-guaiacyl ratio (S/G ratio), enhanced cell-wall rigidity and structural stability. This study provides a rigorous theoretical foundation for the empirical ripening of bamboo, linking microscopic molecular reorganization to macroscopic acoustic excellence.
Source: Industrial Crops and Products
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,720
OpenAlex ID: W7171854716