SIMILITUDE LAW

Iswandi Imran, PhD

Flow Diagram of Structural Testing
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Similitude Requirements

 The laws of structural similitude are used to

design, operate and interpret a physical
model study.
 Similitude requirements specify the
relationships between model and prototype
geometry, materials, loading, and structural
response
Similitude Requirements
 Derived by applying Buckingham’s Pi
Theorem to form independent dimensionless
ratios of all pertinent quantities involved in the
structural problems, and then making each
dimensionless ratio identical in both model
and prototype
 Example: scaling of concentrated load Q may
be determined by forming a dimensionless
ratio involving Q and other pertinent
properties such as length (L) and modulus E.
Similitude Requirements
Q
πQ = 2
El
 Q   Q 
 2  = 2 
 El  p  El  m
Qp E p l p2
= sQ = = s E sl2
Qm Em lm2
Qp Qp
Qm = =
sQ s E sl2
Fundamental Measure or Dimension

 Length (L)
 Force (F) or Mass
 Time (T)
 Temperature
 Electric charge
Scale Factor s i

si is defined as the multiplier required to convert

the model quantity im to the corresponding
prototype quantities ip, so:

ip = si im
Type of Model

 True Model
- All similitude requirements are satisfied
- Strains in prototype and model will be
identical at all homologous (geometrically
similar) points.
- Can be easily achieved in large scalemodel
 Distorted Model
Distortion

 Discrete loading in place of distributed

loading
 Lack of similitude in bond strength of reinf
wires for r/c models
 Model concrete with failure criteria different
from that of prototype concrete
 Violation of Poisson’s ratio when using elastic
models for concrete structures
Static Problems
 There are as many independent scale factors
in any modeling problem as there are
fundamental dimensions needed to express
the quantities involved in the problem
 Two fundamental dimensions are involved for
static problems, i.e. F (Forces) and L (Length)
 Only need two independent scale factors to
develop true model
 The independent scale factors can be sσ
(scale factor for stress)and sl (for geometry)
Static Problems
 Other scale factors are then obtained
according to the principles of dimensional
analysis.
 If another independent scale factor, i.e. sε (for
strain), is also selected then a distortion is
immediately introduced into the model.
 Scale of Test Models
(Geometrical Scale)

Type Scale factor s1

Large scale 3–5
Small scale 15 – 20
Very small scale 40 - 50
Com m on Scales for M odels
Similitude Requirement for Test
Model

Material Similitude

Geometry Similitude

Loading Similitude
Material Similitude (Completely
Similar Model Material)
Material Similitude (True Model)
Material Similitude (Distorted Model)
Material Similitude (Erp/Erm=sσ/sε)
Material Similitude (Erp/Erm= 1 or ≠ sσ/sε)

Steel stress scale =

concrete strain scale

Steel and concrete

stresses must be
modeled by different
scale factors
Possible Distortions in Reinforced Concrete
Models
Case Concrete Reinforcement
’ ’ ’
Sε Sσ SE Sε Sσ S E
1 ≠1 Sε 1 Sε Sε 1
2 ≠1 1 1/ Sε Sε 1 1/ Sε
3 ≠1 ≠1 ≠1 Sε Sε 1
4 ≠1 ≠1 ≠1 Sε Sσ ≠/ SE
Case 2 and 4 require reinforcement made of a
material other than steel
Case 1 and 3 utilize a distortion in strain  should not
be used if response is sensitive to absolut magnitude
of strain
Material Similitude (Distorted ):
Case 1
Material Similitude (Distorted ):
Case 3
 Scale Factor for Material Properties
Quantity Dimension True Distorted model
model
Erp/Erm ≠ sσ/sε Erp/Erm = Erp/Erm = 1
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) sσ/sε (7)
(6)
Concrete stress, σc FL-2 sσ sσ sσ sσ

Concrete strain, εc 1 sε sε sε
Materials properties

Modulus of concrete, Ec FL-2 sσ sσ/sε sσ/sε sσ/sε

Poisson’s ratio, vc 1 1 1 1

Mass density, ρc FL-3 sσ/s1 sσ/s1 sσ/s1 sσ/s1

Reinf. stress, σr FL-2 sσ sεErp/Erm sσ sε

Reinf. strain, εr 1 sε sε sε
Proper Modeling of Material
 Depends on what is sought from the test
 Example cases:
 If ultimate flexure strength is the primary
concern then proper material model depends
on the type of failure (steel or concrete or both)
 One, two or three dimensional model may
dictate the proper model for Poisson’s ratio
 If the dead load stress is of importance then
the scaling of mass density must be carefully
considered
Geometry Similarity
 All linear dimensions of the model must be
scaled down from the corresponding dimensions
of the prototype by a constant ratio
 Scaling of fine aggregate, cement grains, steel
ribs etc is not necessary as long as material
similitude requirements are satisfied
 Consider the size effect on the strength
 Measurement of displacement will require more
sensitive LVDT if small scale is used
 Geometrically distorted model can be used as
long as structural behavior is not adversely
affected by change in geometry
 Scale Factor for Geometry

Quantity Dimension True Distorted model

model
Erp/Erm ≠ sσ/sε Erp/Erm = Erp/Erm = 1
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) sσ/sε (7)
(6)
Linear
dimension, 1 L s1 s1 s1 s1

Displacement, δ L s1
Geometry

sεs1 sεs1 sεs1

Angular 1 sε sε sε
Displacement, β

Area or reinforcement, Ar L2 s12 sσ s12 Erm/sεErp s12 sσ s12 /sε

Loading Similitude

 Both magnitude and distribution of load must

be properly scaled
 The distributed load usually requires
elaborate setup to achieve
 Loading similitude is independent of the
strain scaling factor but dependent of stress
scaling factor
 Scale Factor for Loading
Quantity Dimension True Distorted model
model
Erp/Erm ≠ sσ/sε Erp/Erm = Erp/Erm = 1
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) sσ/sε (7)
(6)
Concentrated
Load, Q F sσ s12 sσ s12 sσ s12 sσ s12
Line Load, w FL-1
Loading

sσs1 sσs1 sσs1 sσs1

Pressure, q FL-2
sσ sσ sσ sσ

Moment, M FL sσ s13 sσ s13 sσ s13 sσ s13

Special Consideration for Concrete
Structures
 Similitude requirement for bonds
 Cracking similitude
 Dynamic modeling
Structural Behavior Affected by Bond

 Repeated or alternating loads

 Transfer of prestressing force in pretensioned
concrete
 Cracking behavior, including the size,
distribution, and growth of cracks
Bond Similitude

 Accurate modeling of all aspects of prototype

bond behavior may not be required in all
applications
 Basic requirement is that the bond stresses
developed by the model reinforcing be
identical to those of the prototype reinforcing
and
 Ultimate bond strength of the model and
prototype reinforcement be identical (in the
case of sσ=1)
Cracking Similitude

 Complete crack similitude requires that both

crack width and spacing are scaled down by
sl
 Need consideration of the following:
- sε = 1
- Tensile strength of the model (concrete)
- Bond properties of the model
Contoh
Full scale :

P = 10 ton

200

500

2000

q DL = 0,2 x 0,5 x 2400 kg/m3 = 240 kg/m

1
M DL = q DL L2 = 120 kg m
8

1
MP = PL = 5 t.m
4
Half scale :
P
100
200

500
250

1000

q DL = 0,1 x 0,25 x 2400 kg/m3 = 60 kg/m

1
M DL = q L2 = 7,5 kg m
8

P = 2,5 ton

2,5
MP = ( 1 ) = 0,625 t.m
4
Thermal Problems

 Four fundamental dimensions are

involved, i.e. F (Forces), L (Length), T
(Time) and θ (Temperature)
 Need four independent scale factors to
develop true model
 Scale Factors For Thermal Modeling

Scale factor
Quantity Dimension Different Different Same materials in
materials in materials in model and
model and model and prototype and
prototype with prototype with same temperature
νp = νm νp ≠ ν m
Stress, σ FL-2 sαsθsE c2sαsθsE 1
Strain, ε sαsθ c1sαsθ 1
Elastic modulus, E FL-2 sE sE 1
Poisson’s ratio, ν 1 sv 1
Coefficient of linear
expansion, α θ-1 sα sα 1
Thermal diffusivity, D L2T-1 sD sD 1
Linear dimension, 1 L s1 s1 s1
Displacement, δ L sαsθs1 c1sαsθs1 s1
Temperature, θ θ sθ sθ 1
Time, t T s12
s1 /sD
2
s1 /sD
2

For general stress state, or plane strain For plane stress

=
(1 + v )(1 − v )
p m
c2 =
1 − vm 1+ vp
c1 = c2 = 1
c1
(1 − v )(1 + v )
p m
1+ vp 1 + vm
Dynamic Problems
 Three fundamental dimensions are
involved, i.e. F (Forces), L (Length) and T
(Time)
 Need three independent scale factors to
develop true model (see case III)
 The independent scale factors can be sE
(scale factor for modulus), sρ (for mass)
and sl (for geometry).
 If more than three independent scale
factors are defined, the problem of
distortion is introduced (case I and case II)
Scale Factor for Earthquake Response
Scale factor
Quantity Dimension
Case 1 Case II Case III

Geometry, 1 L s1 s1 s1
Spec, mass, ρ FL-4T2 sρ sρ sρ
Modulus, E FL-2 sE sE sE
Acceleration, a LT-2 sa sQ / s13 s ρ s E / s1 s ρ
Velocity, v LT-1 sE / sρ sE / sρ sE / sρ
sQ s E s12
Force, Q F s13 s ρ s a
s1 s ρ / s E
Time, t T s1 s ρ / s E s1 s ρ / s E
sE
Stress, σ; and FL-2 s1sρsa sQ / s 2
1
pressure, q

sQ / s12 s E 1
Strain, ε s1sρsa/sE
s12 s ρ sa / s E sQ / s1 s E s1
Displacement, δ L

-1
( )
s E / s ρ / s1 ( )
s E / s ρ / s1 ( )
s E / s ρ / s1
Frequency, f T
1 1 1
Poisson’s ratio, ν