The Liberty Bell, one of America’s most recognized historic symbols, is best known for its distinctive crack, a feature that also makes it an interesting case study in how a bell’s structure shapes its sound.
Using COMSOL Multiphysics, the study creates a simplified 3D model from a scanned replica to investigate the bell’s vibration modes and tuning. It first assesses the bell’s natural frequencies, then uses uncertainty quantification to determine how variations in bell-bronze properties could affect them. A simulated crack is introduced to understand its impact on mode splitting and harmony, while shape optimization explores whether the bell could be tuned to established frequency relationships. Acoustic–structure interaction is then used to simulate a clapper strike and resulting sound radiation. The study offers a closer look at how the Liberty Bell’s structure, crack, and material properties shape its distinctive sound.
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