Editing Scale model (section)

====Structural ====
[[File:33) Load and Confinement box, U of Illinois (Urbana, IL) Alex.JPG|thumb|This is a load confinement box from the University of Illinois, UC Structural engineering lab. It can impart six degrees of freedom on structural scale models.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ceephotos.karcor.com/?s=load+and+confinement+box |title=Civil Engineering Photos » Search Results » load and confinement box |access-date=2013-11-19 |archive-date=2013-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213234147/http://ceephotos.karcor.com/?s=load+and+confinement+box |url-status=dead }}</ref>]]Although [[structural engineering]] has been a field of study for thousands of years and many of the great problems have been solved using analytical and numerical techniques, many problems are still too complicated to understand in an analytical manner or the current numerical techniques lack real world confirmation. When this is the case, for example a complicated reinforced concrete beam-column-slab interaction problem, scale models can be constructed observing the requirements of similitude to study the problem. Many structural labs exist to test these structural scale models such as the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory at the University of Illinois, UC.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cee.illinois.edu/portalresearch_facilities |title=Research Facilities &#124; Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois |access-date=2013-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020021818/http://cee.illinois.edu/portalresearch_facilities |archive-date=2013-10-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For structural engineering scale models, it is important for several specific quantities to be scaled according to the theory of similitude. These quantities can be broadly grouped into three categories: loading, geometry, and material properties. A good reference for considering scales for a structural scale model under static loading conditions in the elastic regime is presented in Table 2.2 of the book ''Structural Modeling and Experimental Techniques''.<ref>Harris, H., et al. 1999, p. 62</ref>

Structural engineering scale models can use different approaches to satisfy the similitude requirements of scale model fabrication and testing. A practical introduction to scale model design and testing is discussed in the paper "Pseudodynamic Testing of Scaled Models".<ref>Kumar, et al. 1997, p. 1</ref>