A feasibility study is proposed to investigate the gravitational effects in small-scale modeling without using centrifuge model technique. The study will critically review the existing state-of-the art theory and practice of scale modeling techniques and evaluate their ability to accurately simulate the soil and structural behaviors. The findings of this study will identify the variables most influenced by gravitational effects, and concepts and procedures will be developed for compensating the gravitational effects without using artificially induced gravity. Furthermore, the gravitational effects related to scale will be investigated using a numerical technique, and a preliminary small-scale laboratory model study will be performed to demonstrate the feasibility and capability of such techniques. The results of the phase I study will be used as a foundation for the phase II study that will provide a comprehensive comparison study between the results of centrifuge model study and new model study developed in phase I and predictions by numerical analysis.
