Size effect on structural strength

According to the classical theories of elastic or plastic structures made from a material with non-random strength (f_t), the nominal strength (σ_N) of a structure is independent of the structure size (D) when geometrically similar structures are considered. Any deviation from this property is called the size effect. For example, conventional strength of materials predicts that a large beam and a tiny beam will fail at the same stress if they are made of the same material. In the real world, because of size effects, a larger beam will fail at a lower stress than a smaller beam.