In order to understand the applicability of scaled down models in designing laminated composite structures, an analytical investigation was undertaken to assess the feasibility of their use. Employment of similitude theory to establish similarity among svuctural systems can save considerable expense and time, provided the proper scaling laws are found and validated. The developed methodology is demonstrated through application of similitude theory to laminated cylindrical shells. Particular emphasis is placed on the case of free vibration of cross-ply laminated cylindrical shells with double curvature. The results presented herein indicate that, for free vibration responses of laminated cylindrical shells of double curvature, based on structural similitude, a set of scaling laws can be found which are used to develop design rules for designing small scale models. This analytical study indicates that distorted models with a different number of layers, geometries and material properties than those of the prototype can predict the behavior of the prototype with good accuracy. However, it is shown that a scaled down model with distorted curvature is incapable of predicting the response of the prototype.

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