Re: [Harp-L] breaking in marine bands (metal fatigue; a definition)

[Chris Bates <cchrisbates@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- Vern Smith <jevern@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
> I think that the statement that "infinitesimally
> small stresses will 
> eventually cause
> failure" isn't warranted.  As the stresses approach
> zero, the fatigue life 
> approaches infinity in a non-linear fashion.  None
> of the published data 
> deals with very small stresses because they aren't
> relevant to the uses of 
> metals in real machines...a harmonica is a machine.

Granted. There often exists a gap between in physics
between theory and real world application. I guess the
real question is does gentle playing put enough stress
on the read to cause eventual failure? And, back to
the original question, does any concrete evidence
exist for the "breaking in" period? At least in
reagrds to the reeds themselves.

Chris


		
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