A study on the effect of cylindrical shell scaled model size on ESCM prediction accuracy

Abstract Current research on similitude theory has introduced numerous methods to address the distortion similitude model. However, these methods still encounter some challenges in guiding the design of scale models, such as insufficient accuracy and a limited range of design sizes. In this paper, the Energy Similitude Correction Method (ESCM) is used to analyze the effect of size design on the accuracy of cylindrical shell-scaled models, taking into account distortion factors such as wall thickness and thermal environment. The research shows that the closer the model size is to the prototype size, the higher the prediction accuracy is. Additionally, larger size combinations are more reliable for predicting the prototype frequency in scaled model tests. The research results provide a basis for the reasonable design of the size of the scaled model group and make a positive contribution to improving the prediction accuracy of the scaled model.