Scaled Model Test of RC Column Considering Strain Distortion of Model Concrete

It is required to estimate the exact dynamic response of RC column to prevent the seismic failure. By the limitation from the capacity of test facility and the cost for a specimen production, the vibration test using real-scale structures is typically not possible. Therefore, the test using scaled model can become an economic alternative. To design the small-scale model of RC structures, it is necessary to use micro-concrete whose aggregate size is smaller than normal concrete. Therefore the material characteristic of concrete for both prototype and scaled model becomes much different. But the material characteristic of reinforcement for both prototype and scaled model is typically not much different. From this discrepancy, a strain distortion is occurred. In this study a new similitude law to minimize the error from the strain distortion and the method for estimating strain ratio of scaled model is developed. Numerical verification for the dynamic analysis of RC column with rectangular section was conducted. Analysis results show that response of the scaled RC model using the suggested similitude law can predict the response of prototype structures with reasonable accuracy.