Acoustics of the Didjeridu. We shall undertake a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the acoustics of the didjeridu-lips-vocal tract system. There is very little published technical literature on the dynamic acoustics of this important and uniquely Australian instrument, whose operation is surprisingly complex. A combination of stroboscopic measurements of lip motion, acoustic and vocal tract impedance measurements, MRI imaging of the vocal tract and computer modeling will be use ....Acoustics of the Didjeridu. We shall undertake a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the acoustics of the didjeridu-lips-vocal tract system. There is very little published technical literature on the dynamic acoustics of this important and uniquely Australian instrument, whose operation is surprisingly complex. A combination of stroboscopic measurements of lip motion, acoustic and vocal tract impedance measurements, MRI imaging of the vocal tract and computer modeling will be used to synthesize all components of the acoustic system into one quantitative model. The expected outcome will be an understanding of this instrument of unparalleled detail.Read moreRead less
Seismic wave modelling and inversion for the most general 3-D anisotropic media. Advanced numerical techniques will be developed and applied to simulate the kinematic and dynamic properties of seismic wave propagation in a complex three-dimensional Earth, involving topography, heterogeneity and the most general anisotropy defined by 21 spatially-dependent elastic moduli. We will develop 2D/3D ray-tracing methods for anisotropic traveltime tomography, 2.5D/3D frequency-domain spectral element met ....Seismic wave modelling and inversion for the most general 3-D anisotropic media. Advanced numerical techniques will be developed and applied to simulate the kinematic and dynamic properties of seismic wave propagation in a complex three-dimensional Earth, involving topography, heterogeneity and the most general anisotropy defined by 21 spatially-dependent elastic moduli. We will develop 2D/3D ray-tracing methods for anisotropic traveltime tomography, 2.5D/3D frequency-domain spectral element methods for full waveform inversion of observational data, and make all these techniques applicable for subsurface imaging under various classes of anisotropy in the Earth. Results will be important for petroleum exploration as well as earthquake seismology and probing the structure of the Earth's deep interior.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100108
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,000.00
Summary
Ultra-high frequency non-contact vibrometry equipment for biomicrofluidics metrology. This equipment will enable experimental vibration measurement up to an unprecedented one billion cycles per second of motion smaller than the width of a helium atom (20 femtometres). Understanding and harnessing the phenomena unique to this regime, especially very large accelerations surpassing one billion times the acceleration of gravity, will enable the development of rapid protein crystallisation techniques ....Ultra-high frequency non-contact vibrometry equipment for biomicrofluidics metrology. This equipment will enable experimental vibration measurement up to an unprecedented one billion cycles per second of motion smaller than the width of a helium atom (20 femtometres). Understanding and harnessing the phenomena unique to this regime, especially very large accelerations surpassing one billion times the acceleration of gravity, will enable the development of rapid protein crystallisation techniques and constant-temperature organic chemical reaction enhancement for rapid development of new drugs, new devices for measuring the profile of surfaces at video speeds (videoAFM), new micro- and nano-devices for fluid pumping, mixing, colloidal separation and concentration, and new autonomous nanorobots for non-invasive microsurgery.Read moreRead less
Beyond linear source-filter theory: how does the vocal tract affect the motion of the vocal folds? The human voice lies at the very core of human culture. Yet the way in which the vocal folds ('vocal cords') vibrate is only partly understood and the way in which sound waves within the vocal tract affect this vibration is almost unknown, beyond the fact that it is sometimes important. Using new and unique non-invasive techniques, we shall conduct acoustic experiments to measure properties of the ....Beyond linear source-filter theory: how does the vocal tract affect the motion of the vocal folds? The human voice lies at the very core of human culture. Yet the way in which the vocal folds ('vocal cords') vibrate is only partly understood and the way in which sound waves within the vocal tract affect this vibration is almost unknown, beyond the fact that it is sometimes important. Using new and unique non-invasive techniques, we shall conduct acoustic experiments to measure properties of the vocal folds and their interaction with the sound they produce in the vocal tract. This knowledge will solve some of the remaining puzzles about the voice. Practical applications will include exercises in voice control (especially for singers and orators) and potential applications in clinical diagnosis techniques.Read moreRead less
Flute properties without players, and without flutes. This project will measure how the acoustic impedance spectra of some flutes depend upon the detailed shape of the bore and the size, shape and position of the holes. It will develop a model to predict, for the benefit of instrument makers, the effect of proposed changes in the geometry of the instrument on the pitches and ease of playing of notes played on the instrument. Importantly, it will allow museum curators to determine tunings and (un ....Flute properties without players, and without flutes. This project will measure how the acoustic impedance spectra of some flutes depend upon the detailed shape of the bore and the size, shape and position of the holes. It will develop a model to predict, for the benefit of instrument makers, the effect of proposed changes in the geometry of the instrument on the pitches and ease of playing of notes played on the instrument. Importantly, it will allow museum curators to determine tunings and (uncompensated) temperaments of historic instruments that cannot readily be played.Read moreRead less
A study of vocal tract resonances in the singing voice to develop tools for teaching singing. The voice is our oldest and most widely used musical instrument, but it is incompletely understood because of the difficulty of studying the vocal tract precisely during singing. We shall determine the main techniques used by singers to control and to adapt the acoustic resonances of their vocal tracts. This advance in understanding will enhance Australia's scientific reputation in an area of wide publi ....A study of vocal tract resonances in the singing voice to develop tools for teaching singing. The voice is our oldest and most widely used musical instrument, but it is incompletely understood because of the difficulty of studying the vocal tract precisely during singing. We shall determine the main techniques used by singers to control and to adapt the acoustic resonances of their vocal tracts. This advance in understanding will enhance Australia's scientific reputation in an area of wide public interest. Further, when combined with developments of our novel techniques to operate in real time, it will provide a new tool for students of singing to adjust their resonances and prevent damage to the vocal tract. We shall publish our work not only in the top scientific journals, but also on our popular, multi-award winning web site.Read moreRead less