DOI: 10.12975/rastmd.20261434 ISSN: 2147-7361

The acoustic role of rosette design in the oud: An experimental study of geometric and mechanical effects

Emir Değirmenli
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Oud rosettes have traditionally been discussed primarily as decorative structures covering the sound holes, although their acoustic and mechanical roles remain insufficiently resolved. This study investigates rosette design within a unified vibroacoustic framework. The geometric analysis considers total open area, regional open-area distribution, and total aperture-edge length, whereas the mechanical analysis considers progressive added mass and connectivity/stiffness-proxy configurations. A single fully playable oud and a set of interchangeable experimental rosettes were used to isolate local design changes from inter-instrument variability. For each configuration, the structural response was characterized through bridge-mobility measurements, and the force- normalized acoustic response was measured with a calibrated microphone positioned 1 m from the instrument under standardized conditions. The lightweight geometry series produced comparatively modest, descriptor- specific changes; the clearest openness effects occurred at the fully Closed and Open boundary conditions. Progressive added mass produced the most regular downward shift and reduction of the bridge-mobility peak around 220 Hz, whereas the connectivity/stiffness-proxy series evolved non-monotonically and was dominated by the F4 departure. In the experimental oud examined here, the findings support treating the rosette as a coupled geometric and mechanically interacting component rather than as a decorative cover or an open-area descriptor alone.

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