AbstractThis paper presents a study of shake table testing for aseismic design of structure systems. Two reinforced concrete structure models of different scales were used first to implement and demonstrate the similitude concept using available testing equipment. This concept was then applied to a 33‐story reinforced concrete building's scaled model, using multidirectional simulated seismic excitations. The test results were used to evaluate and modify the original design. Some of these results were also verified using field testing after the building's construction was completed. Comparison of the results between the model test and the full‐scale test shows that testing based on dynamic similitude using shake table are useful although not perfect and can provide supplementary data for decision making in engineering design. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.