Dynamic Characteristics of the Bended Thin Plate Structures: Low Vibration Design by Imitating of Caribbean Steel Drums

Thin plate structures whose features are light and easy to treat have been used to various product. In order to improve rigidity, the structures have been processed to curved or concavoconvex plates. Dynamic characteristics of the thin plate structures haven't been considered because of the difficulties of design. Caribbean steel drums, which are percussion musical instrument have a spherical shell with many bends and grooves, it has various musical scales. The dynamic characteristics of the steel drums are tuned by its bends and grooves. This paper presents investigation of the guideline for making the thin plate structure with bends and grooves. Experimental modal analysis is used to identify the vibration mode of the steel drum. Then the paper is an attempt to bring out a possibility of vibration mode tuning of the thin plate structures with bends and grooves.