This study investigates problems associated with design of scaled down models. Similitude theory is employed to develop the necessary similarity conditions. Scaling laws provide relationship between a full-scale structure and its scale models, and can be used to extrapolate the experimental data of a small, inexpensive, and easily tested model into design information for the large prototype. Both complete and partial similarity are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the cases of buckling of rectangular symmetric angle-ply laminated plates under uniaxial compressive and shear loads. 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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