STUDY ON ELASTO-PLASTIC SIMILITUDE RELATIONSHIP OF STEEL PIER MODELS

Similitude relationships based on material property between the model structure and prototype were widely used in both static and dynamic model tests. However, for most small scaled model tests, it was difficult to obtain the material properties to satisfy the similitude relationships strictly in the whole elasto-plastic range. Hence the application of the elasto-plastic similitude relationships based on the elemental behavior of 1/10 scaled steel bridge pier models was discussed. The dynamic properties, seismic responses and seismic behavior of the model were not only related to its material properties, but also related to the behavior of the main elements with critical sections. The shaking table tests were executed to investigate the similarities in dynamic process. The results showed that the similitude relationship based on the elemental behavior of steel model could simulate the prototype structure in the whole elasto-plastic range effectively.