Real-Time Implementation of an Elasto-Plastic Friction Model applied to Stiff Strings using Finite Difference Schemes

The simulation of a bowed string is challenging due to the strongly non-linear relationship between the bow and the string. This relationship can be described through a model of friction. Several friction models in the literature have been proposed, from simple velocity dependent to more accurate ones. Similarly, a highly accurate technique to simulate a stiff string is the use of finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods. As these models are generally computationally heavy, implementation in real-time is challenging. This paper presents a real-time implementation of the combination of a complex friction model, namely the elasto-plastic friction model, and a stiff string simulated using FDTD methods. We show that it is possible to keep the CPU usage of a single bowed string below 6 percent. For real-time control of the bowed string, the Sensel Morph is used.