Novel Methodological Approach to Developing Scaled-Down Concrete Material for Structural Applications: Experimental Validation Using Froude Scaling

Full-scale structural experiments significantly contribute to understanding reinforced concrete (RC) behavior but are often constrained by high costs, extensive time requirements, and practical spatial limitations. Alternatively, small-scale physical models offer a feasible solution, though accurately replicating nonlinear material behavior under load at reduced scales remains challenging. This research addresses these challenges by introducing a methodological approach to developing a novel scaled-down concrete material to emulate full-scale structural behavior. The developed material strictly adheres to Froude similitude criteria, ensuring an accurate representation of gravitational effects without requiring artificially induced gravity, such as centrifuge testing. Experimental validation demonstrates that this material model successfully replicates critical mechanical properties of full-scale concrete, with less than 2% variance observed in compressive strength, strain characteristics, and failure modes. Further validation through comparative testing of scaled-down and corresponding full-scale RC beams confirms the material’s capability to precisely capture structural responses. Consequently, the proposed scaled-down concrete model offers a reliable, economical, and effective approach to evaluating structural performance, overcoming traditional limitations associated with full-scale structural experimentation.