Abstract
The centrifuge model testing is recognized as a useful tool to investigate the behavior of earth structures. The testing method has the great advantage that the same gravitational stress field as in a prototype can be reproduced at the homologous points in the small model, because the mechanical characteristics of soil show strong dependency on the effective confining pressure. In this paper, the principle of the centrifuge model testing is firstly described with special reference to the law of similarity. Recent applications of the centrifuge model testing to dynamic problems are reviewed after pointing out some problems concerning with the dynamic centrifuge model testing.

【キーワード】：遠心力，模型実験，相似則，動的 Key words: centrifuge, model testing, law of similarity, dynamic

*京都大学工学部土木工学科
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University