ABSTRACT
In case of some structural questions like wind load of complex shaped buildings measurement models are a quite frequently used tool and object of testing methods. Physical models make structural behavior obvious and comprehensible not only for experts, whereas mathematical or numerical models often are considered to represent a black box system. Nevertheless the method of analyzing load-bearing structures by physical and measurement models is passing by. The history of physical models is already part of some research activities. An early use of models for structural analysis is documented in the Madrid Codex. In the late 15th century Leonardo da Vinci researched the behavior of bending of elastic beams of various span using physical models. As there is knowledge of only a very few existing physical and measurement models in Germany, it would be great to receive more information about the situation in other countries and continents.
