An analytical investigation was undertaken to show how and to what extent similitude theory can be applied in the design of scaled-down models. Through similitude the necessary similarity conditions, referred to herein as scaling laws, pertaining to free vibrations of laminated plates are derived. Establishment of scaling laws, based on the direct use of the governing equations is discussed and their use in the design of models is presented. These scaling laws provide the relationships between structural geometric parameters and frequency response parameters of a scaled-down model and its prototype. Later, these conditions are used to design a model, the experimental data of which can be projected in order to predict the behavior of the prototype. Attention is focused on the use of models for the analysis of free vibrations of multilayered composite rectangular plates. Angle-ply and cross-ply symmetric configurations are chosen for investigation. This analytical study indicates that distorted models with a different number of layers, material properties, and geometries than those of the prototype can predict the behavior of the prototype with good accuracy.

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