The Influence of Bias Uncertainties on the Use of Small-Scale Physical Models to Examine the Dynamic Behavior of Constructed Systems—Phase I

Dynamic responses of constructed systems are of interest due to issue of life-safety related to earthquakes, blast, and impact loadings. There are two common approaches to understanding the dynamic behavior of constructed systems: field testing and small-scale physical model testing in a laboratory. Both of these approaches are needed. Field tests are guaranteed to be representative of actual constructed system behavior, but are difficult to interpret and understand completely. Physical models are easier to understand and interpret, but may not be representative of actual constructed system behavior. There is currently an incomplete understanding of how reliable the theory and application of dynamic similitude laws are for physical model studies, and thus there is uncertainty associated with the validity of the results from a large number of experimental studies. Several key sources of uncertainty associated with construction of physical models, scaling and execution of input, elastic behavior-specific mechanisms and inelastic behavior-specific mechanisms have been identified. This paper establishes how they influence the use of small-scale physical models to simulate the dynamic behavior of constructed systems. The final goal of this thesis is to serve as class notes for a graduate course on experimental mechanics partly based on physical modeling with focus on dynamic similitude and structural dynamics.