Mehmet Inel

Load carrying system characteristics of existing Turkish RC building stock

Seismic performance and loss assessment studies for stock of buildings are generally based on representative models due to extremely large number of vulnerable buildings. The main problem is the proper reflection of the building stock characteristics well enough by limited number of representative models. This study aims to provide statistical information of structural parameters of Turkish building stock for proper modeling using a detailed inventory study including 475 low and mid-rise RC building with 40351 columns and 3128 beams for member properties. Thirty-five different parameters of existing low and mid-rise Turkish RC building stock are investigated. An example application is given to express use of given statistical information. The outcomes of the current study and previous studies are compared. The comparison shows that the previous studies have guidance for limited number of parameters while the current study provides considerably wide variety of structural and member parameters for proper modeling.

Evaluations on the relation of RC building damages with structural parameters after May 19, 2011 Simav (Turkey) earthquake

Abstract An earthquake has struck Simav, Kutahya, located in the western part of Turkey on May 19, 2011. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the regional damage data and detailed investigation on a set of selected reinforced concrete buildings in Simav county center. The soil properties in Simav are examined in detail using multi-channel analysis of surface wave measurements, boreholes and laboratory test data. The damages are observed to be independent of soil conditions being hilly or plain, both in regional and Simav county center level. However, a slight relation is observed: as the soil period increases, so does the damage. The most damaged buildings are the four story buildings, resembling the case after some other earthquakes in Turkey. Regarding the detailed numerical evaluations on the building set, the properties highly correlated with seismic damage are investigated. Based on the obtained findings, it is concluded that the global building properties may not be enough to establish a strong relation with damage due to the local damages at the structural member level, especially for smaller seismic events.

Evaluation of Reasons of the Damages after Simav and Van (2011) Earthquakes

Turkey is located on a region with high seismicity. The intense seismic activity in 2011, especially Simav and Van earthquakes, once again reminded of this fact. The aim of this study is to give information on the causes of the heavy damage and loss of lives after these earthquakes which are not incompliance with engineering principles. Based on the investigations, the damaged buildings are found to have similar deficiencies as inadequate detailing, material properties, faults in application and design. The most important reasons of the collapses are insufficient strength of joint regions and lap splice lengths. The following flaws are: inadequacies in amount or/and detailing of the lateral reinforcements, short column, overhang and soft story effects, deficient isolation applications and gable wall construction, low concrete strength, pounding and collision between buildings and faulty load bearing system designs. The other remarkable observations after the earthquakes are: the dependency of the seismic damages to some other parameters beside distance to the epicenter, adequate performances of the retrofitted buildings, total collapse of even shear-wall buildings with heavy flaws, buildings with high concrete strength may be heavily damaged, buildings with flexible load carrying system may take significant architectural damage without structural, for moderate and heavy damages 4-5 story buildings are the most damaged ones, even the multi story adobe buildings that are built in accordance with technical provisions may survive the earthquake without damage, therefore the main reason for the devastation is the violation of the engineering principles.