A Method of Evaluating Structural Integrity of Integrated Mast with Scaled Model

Integrated masts, equipped with radars and other sensors, reduce radar cross sections and improve destroyers’ stealth ability. Because of their critical impact on ships’ survivability, they have to undergo vibration tests to ensure their structural integrity. However, testing of gigantic shipboard equipment is difficult, time-consuming, and costly. Therefore, countries without the facilities required to test large structures omit the test or circumvent it by substituting finite element analysis. In this study, we propose a method to experimentally test the structural integrity of masts through scaled models based on similitude analysis. We constructed full-scale and 1/10-scale 3D finite element models to compare their dynamic characteristics and responses. From the finite element analysis, we found that the dynamic responses of the full-scale model can be derived from the responses of the downscaled model through the application of scaling factors defined by dimensional analysis. Our results suggest that downscaled models can supplant full-scale models in vibration experiments. We anticipate our research to be a starting point for more efficient, economic, and feasible experimental testing.