Singing Cans Prototyping An Experimental Wind Instrument Through Parametric Design Integrated With Field Experiments

We present a study of how parametric design can be linked to field experiments where ready-made plug-ins are not available for performative modelling. The study centres on prototyping 'Singing Cans' - an experimental wind instrument made with an assembly of drinking cans that can produce sounds in recognizable pitches by interacting with airflows. We describe how field experiments conducted in a fluid flow lab can generate performative resources linkable to parametric design modelling. In Singing Cans, we focus on how to get airflow through a hole made on drinking can to make sounds. The prototyping process involved a lab-based calibration process to establish the relationship between the air volume of a can, measured by water-filling, and the pitch produced, measured by the Tuner Lite by Piascore. The field experiments resulted in a dataset capturing a can's sound-making behaviour in terms of water volumes and pitches. A parametric model that can take in wind data generated by a CFD package and output a 3D frame for site-specific cans installation is presented.