Scientific areas

The scientific areas constitute the basis for the formation of Working Groups (WG) in this Action as specified below. The scientific program and the required methods and instruments for achieving the objectives are presented in relation to the principal scientific areas. So far, main aims and tasks have been specified below. Other topics may be included then to accommodate disciplinary perspectives and activities not foreseen during the preparation of the proposal.

Scientific area 1: Art and humanities sciences

Historical, ethnobotanical, sociological and archeaelogical approaches to wood uses in musical instrument making at different epochs.
Interaction with archaeologists in order to pursue a long-term vision of wood uses and exchanges, through the viewpoint of musical instrument making.
Analysis with present-day makers of their empirical perception (aesthetical, physical, acoustical) of a given wood for a given use – that could then be related to historical sources and/or to wood science approaches.

Scientific area 2: Mechanics and characterization of wood

Mechanics and characterization of wood behaviour in different physical/mechanical domains related to changes of properties and behaviour of wood and of Wooden Cultural Heritage e.g. structural, physical and mechanical, chemical and rheological.
Non-destructive (micro samples allowed) and non-invasive techniques or in-situ and studio/labor.

Scientific area 3: Acoustics – reconstruction of wooden musical instruments

Criteria and methodology for understanding, evaluating and keeping sound.
Methodology including simulation (finite element) and experimental tools (acoustical holography, directivity antenna…) to increase understanding of the production of sound by soundboards, to compare facsimile and original instruments and to evaluate the effect of environmental evolution on the instruments.