X. Pelorson
A. Hirshberg
Vakgroep Transportfysica, TU Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Y. Auregan
Univ. du Maine, Le Mans, France
The two-mass approximation is often presented as a simple but efficient model for the purpose of numerical synthesis of voiced sounds. However, the quality and the naturalness of the generated signal is still to be improved. A simple modification of the two-mass model is proposed in which the mechanical dynamics of that of two point masses. The movement of these point masses drives a two-parameter curve describing the smooth surface of the vocal folds. This representation allows description of unsteady flow separation within the glottis. A semiempirical boundary layer theory is used to calculate the position of flow separation. This theory is experimentally tested using stationary flow measurements and unsteady flow visualization. Furthermore, computed volume flux and Bernoulli force are presented and compared with classical models. The description also includes an inelastic collision which yields a prediction of an additional volume flux due to the deformation of the vocal folds after the through flux has been stopped by the closure of the glottis. This additional deformation appears to have a significant influence on the voiced sound production.