Feasibility-Oriented Assessment of Physical Modeling Approaches for Shaking Table Testing of RC Minarets

Slender structures such as minarets are highly susceptible to earthquake-induced damage in seismically active regions. Although various methods, including analytical and observational techniques, have been employed to study the seismic response of reinforced concrete (RC) minarets, the use of scaled physical models and shaking table testing remains limited. This research examines the numerical feasibility of employing scaled physical models for shaking table investigations of RC minarets under realistic laboratory constraints. A representative RC minaret with a height of 33.2 m was selected and a geometric scale ratio of 1:10 length was adopted. Established physical modeling approaches were evaluated through numerical implementation, with particular attention to similitude requirements, material properties, and laboratory limitations. Within this framework, the Artificial Mass Model (AMM) and the Neglected Gravity Model (NGM) were examined as candidate strategies for scaled modeling. Both approaches necessitate the use of a material with a reduced modulus of elasticity or an increased mass density relative to the prototype material. To satisfy these requirements, two micro-concrete mixes, designated as Mix-1 and Mix-2, incorporating partial replacement of the binder with lower-stiffness constituents such as plaster gypsum and fly ash, were developed and characterized. Numerical results indicate that both the AMM and NGM approaches are viable for modeling slender RC minaret structures. Although the AMM provides slightly higher accuracy in reproducing the prototype dynamic response, the NGM offers greater practical applicability by eliminating the need for additional artificial mass. Overall, this study presents a preliminary numerical feasibility assessment that supports the selection of appropriate physical modeling strategies and provides a rational basis for the subsequent execution of shaking table experiments.