1. Basin & Reservoir Research Center, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China; 2. State Key Laboratory for Petroleum Resource and Prospecting, Beijing 102249, China

Structural physical modelling is the most effective method to study the structural deformation process and formation mechanism. On the basis of exhibiting and generalizing the recent achievements at home and abroad, the authors summarized the theory, material and technical process of physical modelling. In compressional area, physical modelling has been proved to be a powerful tool for simulating the evolution process of fold - thrust system, and gets great progress in nappe and double thrust structures, thrust belt inversion and basement involvement, compressional orogenesis function and surface process, structure transform zone in compressional area and mantle convection together with collision or subduction of plates, etc.