Scientific Article

Benchmark study of pipe input impedance simulations and measurements for verification and validation in musical acoustics context

¹ Sorbonne Université and Inria Paris, CNRS, Institut Jean Le Rond d’Alembert, LAM Team, F-75005 Paris, France
² Department of Applied Mechanics, Université de Franche-Comté, CNRS, Institut FEMTO-ST, F-25000 Besançon, France
³ Institut Technologique Européen des Métiers de la Musique, ITEMM, 71 avenue Olivier MESSIAEN, 72000 Le Mans, France
⁴ Modartt, 6 rue Ariane, Bât. 3, 31520 Ramonville Saint Agne, France
⁵ Buffet Crampon, 5 Rue Maurice Berteaux, 78711 Mantes-la-Ville, France
⁶ Laboratoire d’Acoustique de l’Université du Mans UMR CNRS 6613, Le Mans Université, 72085 Le Mans, France
⁷ Laboratoire de Mécanique des Structures et des Systèmes Couplés, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 75003 Paris, France
⁸ Yamaha Corporation, Research and Development Division, 10-1 Nakazawa-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 430-8650, Japan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 13 February 2026
Accepted: 13 May 2026

Abstract

Input impedance plays a fundamental role in the acoustics of wind instruments, representing many musical properties. This study investigates both the numerical simulation and experimental measurement of pipe input impedance, focusing on simple geometries such as cylindrical and conical pipes. Through a collaborative effort involving multiple operators, the reliability, reproducibility, and sources of variability in both simulation and measurement processes are examined. The aim is to reflect practices in different laboratories rather than idealized conditions. Numerically, various modeling approaches were used, incorporating different physical models for wave propagation, boundary conditions, and thermo-viscous effects, followed by various discretization methods to solve them (TMM, 1D or 3D FEM, etc.). The presented data are the result of iterative comparisons and discussions. The possible origins of the remaining simulation discrepancies are discussed (implementation errors, numerical convergence issues, or modeling assumptions). Experimentally, sources of variability–such as intra-/inter-operator and intra-/inter-specimen differences, and geometric uncertainties–are analyzed in detail, highlighting the predominance of inter-operator variability. Overall, the study proposes practical recommendations for improving the consistency and accuracy of both impedance simulations and measurements in musical acoustics research.