• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.953-977
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• 2016

Modern performance-based design methods require ways to determine the factual behavior of structures subjected to earthquakes. Drift ratio demands are important measures of structural and/or nonstructural damage of the structures in performance-based design. In this study, global drift ratio and interstory drift ratio demands, obtained by nonlinear time history analysis of three generic RC frames using code-compatible ground motion record sets, are statistically evaluated. Several ground motion record sets compatible with elastic design spectra defined for the local soil classes in Turkish Earthquake Code are used for the analyses. Variation of the drift ratio demands obtained from ground motion records in the sets and difference between the mean of drift ratio demands calculated for ground motion sets are evaluated. The results of the study indicate that i) variation of maximum drift ratio demands in the sets were high; ii) different drift ratio demands are calculated using different ground motion record sets although they are compatible with the same design spectra; iii) the effect of variability due to random causes on the total variability of drift ratio demands is much larger than the effect of variability due to differences between the mean of ground motion record sets; iv) global and interstory drift ratio demands obtained for different ground motion record sets can be accepted as simply random samples of the same population at %95 confidence level. The results are valid for all the generic frames and local soil classes considered in this study.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.689-706
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• 2024

This study is aimed at identifying structural element stiffness influence on vertical earthquake response of mid-rise R/C frame buildings. To this aim, a mid-rise RC building structure is designed as per the new Turkish Seismic Code for Buildings-2018, and 3D FE model of the building is established. Based on the established FE model, a total number of six buildings are considered depending on certain percentage increase in beam, slab, and column. The time-history response analyses (THA) are performed separately for only horizontal (H) and horizontal +vertical (H+V) earthquake motions to make a comparison between the load cases. The analysis results are presented comparatively in terms of the monitoring parameters of the base overturning moment (M_o), the top-story lateral displacement (d_L) and the top-story vertical displacement (d_V). The obtained results reveal that the base overturning moment and the top-story vertical displacement are affected by vertical earthquake motion regardless of the increase in the dimension of beam, slab, and column. However, vertical earthquake motion is not effective on the top-story lateral displacement due to no change between H and H+V load. The dimensional increase in either slab or beam leads to a considerable increase in the base overturning moment and the top-story vertical displacement while causing decrease in the top-story lateral displacement. In addition, the dimensional increase in column has a positive effect on the decrease in the monitoring parameters of the base overturning moment (M_o), the top-story lateral displacement (d_L) and the top-story vertical displacement (d_V).

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.2
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• pp.117-128
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• 2023

On February 6, 2023, Türkiye woke up with a strong ground motion felt in a wide geography. As a result of the Kahramanmaraş, Pazarcık and Elbistan earthquakes, which took place 9 hours apart, there was great destruction and loss of life. The 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes occurred on active faults known to pose a high seismic hazard, but their effects were devastating. Seismic code spectra were investigated in Hatay, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş where destruction is high. The study mainly focuses on the investigation of ground motion parameters of 6 February Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and the correlation between ground motion parameters. In addition, earthquakes greater than Mw 5.0 that occurred in Türkiye were compared with certain seismic parameters. As in the strong ground motion studies, seismic energy parameters such as Arias intensity, characteristic intensity, cumulative absolute velocity and specific energy density were determined, especially considering the duration content of the earthquake. Based on the study, it was concluded that the structures were overloaded far beyond their normal design levels. This, coupled with significant vertical seismic components, is a contributing factor to the collapse of many buildings in the area. In the evaluation made on Arias intensity, much more energy (approximately ten times) emerged in Kahramanmaraş earthquakes compared to other Türkiye earthquakes. No good correlation was found between moment magnitude and peak ground accelerations, peak ground velocities, Arias intensities and ground motion durations in Türkiye earthquakes. Both high seismic components and long ground motion durations caused intense energy to be transferred to the structures. No strong correlation was found between ground motion durations and other seismic parameters. There is a strong positive correlation between PGA and seismic energy parameter AI. Kahramanmaraş earthquakes revealed that changes should be made in the Turkish seismic code to predict higher spectral acceleration values, especially in earthquake-prone regions in Türkiye.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.521-543
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• 2015

Depending on the damage type as well as the level of damage observed after the earthquake, certain measures should be taken for the damaged buildings. In this study, structural repairing of two different types of damaged RC beam-column assembly by carbon fiber-reinforced polymer sheets is investigated in detail as a member repairing technique. Two types of 1:1 scale test specimens, which represent the exterior RC beam-column connection taken from inflection points of the frame, are utilized. The first specimen is designed according to the current Turkish Earthquake Code, whereas the second one represents a deficient RC beam-column assembly. Both of the specimens were subjected to cyclic quasistatic loading in the laboratory and different levels of structural damage were observed. The first specimen displayed a ductile response with the damage concentrated in the beam. However, in the second specimen, the beam-column joint was severely damaged while the rest of the members did not attain their capacities. Depending on the damage type of the specimens, the damaged members were repaired by CFRP wrapping with different configurations. After testing the repaired specimens, it is found that former capacities of the damaged members were mostly recovered by the application of CFRPs on the damaged members.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.223-241
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• 2007

Seven full-scale exterior beam-column joints were produced and tested under reversible cyclic loads to determine. Two of these seven specimens were produced using ordinary reinforced concrete (RC). Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) was placed in three different regions of the beams of the rest five specimens to determine the extent of the region where SFRC is the most effective. The extent of the region of SFRC was kept constant at the columns of all five specimens. Three of these five specimens which had one stirrup in the joint, were tested to evaluate the effect of the stirrup on the behavior of the beam-column joint together with SFRC. In production of the specimens with SFRC, all special requirements of the Turkish Earthquake Code related to the spacing of hoops were disregarded. Previous researches reported in the literature indicate that the fiber type, the volume content, and the aspect ratio of steel fibers affect the behavior of beam-column joints produced with SFRC. The results of the present investigation show that the behavior of exterior beam-column joints depends on the extent of the region where SFRC is used and the usage of stirrup in the joint, in addition to the parameters listed in the literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.267-276
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• 2014

Wharfs are essential to shipping and support very large gravity loads on both a short-term and long-term basis which cause quite large seismic internal forces. Therefore, these structures are vulnerable to seismic activities. As they are supported on vertical and/or batter piles, soil-pile interaction effects under earthquake events have a great importance in seismic resistance which is not yet fully understood. Seismic design codes have become more stringent and suggest the use of new design methods, such as Performance Based Design principles. According to Turkish Code for Coastal and Port Structures (TCCS 2008), the interaction between soil and pile should somehow be considered in the nonlinear analysis in an accurate manner. This study aims to explore the lateral load carrying capacity of recently designed wharf structures considering soil-pile interaction effects for different soil conditions. For this purpose, nonlinear structure analysis according to TCCS (2008) has been performed comparing simplified and detailed modeling results.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.383-393
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• 2018

In this study, seismic performance of low and medium-rise RC buildings with wide-beam and ribbed-slab were evaluated numerically. Moment resisting systems consisting of moment and dual frame were selected as structural system of the buildings. Sufficiency of moment resisting wide-beam frames designed with high ductility requirements were evaluated. Upon necessity frames were stiffen with shear-walls. The buildings were designed in accordance with the Turkish Earthquake Code (TEC 2007) and were evaluated by using the strain-based nonlinear static method specified in TEC. Second order (P-delta) effects on the lateral load capacity of the buildings were also assessed in the study. The results indicated that the predicted seismic performances were achieved for the low-rise (4-story) building with the high ductility requirements. However, the moment resisting frame with high ductility was not adequate for the medium-rise building. Addition of sufficient amount of shear-walls to the system proved to be efficient way of providing the target performance of structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2015

Due to design codes and regulations and the variety of building plans in Turkey, it is very often seen that band-type windows are left for ventilation and lightening of the basements of buildings which are used for various purposes such as workplaces and storage. Therefore when the necessary support measures cannot be given, short columns are subjected to very high shear forces and so damage occurs. One of the precautions to avoid the damage of short column mechanisms in buildings where band-type windows are in the basement is to strengthen the short columns with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). In this study, the effect of the FRP retrofitting process of the short columns around band-windowed structures, which are found especially in basement areas, is analyzed in accordance with Turkish Seismic Code 2007 (TSC 2007). Three different models which are bare frame, frame with short columns and retrofitted short columns with FRP, are created and analyzed according to TSC 2007 performance analysis methods to understand the effects of band windows in basements and the effect of FRP retrofitting.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.545-560
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• 2015

In this paper, blast-induced vibration effects on buildings located in rural areas were investigated. Damages to reinforced concrete, adobe and masonry buildings were evaluated in Çatakk$\ddot{o}pr\ddot{u}$ and Susuz villages in Silvan district of Diyarbakir, Turkey. Blasting of stiff rocks to construct highway at vicinity of the villages damaged the buildings seriously. The most important reason of the damages is lack of engineering services and improper constructed buildings according to the current building design codes. Also, it is determined that, inappropriate blast method and soft soil class increased the damages to the buildings. The study focuses on four points: Blast effect on buildings, soil conditions in villages, building damages and evaluation of damage reasons according to the current Turkish Earthquake Code (TEC).

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.133-152
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• 2015

This paper investigates the soil effect on seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings by using the spread plastic hinge model which includes material and geometric nonlinearity of the structural members. Therefore, typical reinforced concrete frame buildings are selected and nonlinear dynamic time history analyses and pushover analyses are performed. Three earthquake acceleration records are selected for nonlinear dynamic time history analyses. These records are adjusted to be compatible with the design spectrum defined in Turkish Seismic Code. Interstory drifts and damages of selected buildings are compared according to local soil classes. Also, capacity curves of these buildings are compared with maximum responses obtained from nonlinear dynamic time history analyses. The results show that, soil class influences the seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete buildings, significantly.