This study evaluates alto saxophone reed stiffness characterization techniques using several approaches, including a unique point-stiffness methodology and anatomical image analyses. Point-stiffness is experimentally characterized at multiple locations along the tip of the reed to capture spatial variability in stiffness. Forty-eight reeds of varying manufacturer-rated stiffness (but identical cut) were analyzed with respect to point-stiffness and anatomical structures. Observations of point-stiffness variability in these reeds are made and illustrate the shortcomings of typical manufacturing sorting methods. Point-stiffness measurements and perceptual evaluation of a subset of eight reeds were performed concurrently by a professional musician playing on the reeds regularly over a 2.5 month duration. Single values of point-stiffness at specific tip locations are found to be correlated with the musician’s perceptual rankings, and point-stiffness variations between each of the tested reed tip locations (termed asymmetry) are found to be important for interpreting the musician’s rankings of ‘soft’ and ‘stiff’ reeds. Anatomical evaluation of the reeds is performed using optical microscopy to aid in quantifying the differences in point-stiffness observed between reeds. Correlations between point-stiffness and anatomical structures are found and an effective point-stiffness model, dependent on these anatomical structures, is developed. Good agreement between the model and measured point-stiffness is observed. These results could help in the development of more accurate sorting and categorization methods for manufactured reeds, reducing the variability often observed by musicians.

中文翻译：

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中音萨克斯管簧片评估和分类的机械、解剖和建模技术

本研究使用多种方法评估中音萨克斯管簧片刚度表征技术，包括独特的点刚度方法和解剖图像分析。点刚度在沿簧片尖端的多个位置进行实验表征，以捕捉刚度的空间变化。对 48 个制造商额定刚度不同（但切割相同）的簧片进行了点刚度和解剖结构分析。对这些簧片的点刚度变化进行了观察，并说明了典型制造分类方法的缺点。由专业音乐家在 2.5 个月的时间内定期在簧片上演奏，同时对八根簧片的子集进行点刚度测量和感知评估。发现特定尖端位置的点刚度的单个值与音乐家的感知排名相关，并且发现每个测试簧片尖端位置之间的点刚度变化（称为不对称性）对于解释音乐家的排名很重要软'和'硬'的芦苇。使用光学显微镜对芦苇进行解剖评估，以帮助量化芦苇之间观察到的点刚度差异。发现了点刚度和解剖结构之间的相关性，并开发了依赖于这些解剖结构的有效点刚度模型。观察到模型和测量的点刚度之间的良好一致性。这些结果有助于开发更准确的人工芦苇分选和分类方法，