Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simulation of the earthquake-induced collapse of a school building in Turkey in 2011 Van Earthquake

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Collapses of school or dormitory buildings experienced in recent earthquakes raise the issue of safety as a major challenge for decision makers. A school building is ‘just another structure’ technically speaking, however, the consequences of a collapse in an earthquake could lead to social reactions in the complex aftermath of a seismic tremor more than any other type of structure may possibly cause. In this paper a school building that collapsed during 2011 Tabanli, Van Earthquake in eastern Turkey, is analysed in order to identify the possible reasons that led to collapse. Apart from the inherent deficiencies of RC buildings built in Turkey in the 80's and 90's, its structural design exhibits a strikingly high asymmetry. In the analyses conducted, much attention has been given to the direction of the earthquake load and its coincidence with the bi-axial structural response parameters. The failure of the structure to comply with the 1975 Code, in vigor at the time of construction, has also been evaluated with respect to the structure’s collapse. Among the parameters that controlled the collapse, the high plan asymmetry and the coincidence of the vulnerable directions with the dominant shaking direction were critical, as well as the underestimation of the seismic hazard and the lateral design force level, specified by the then Turkish Earthquake Code.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahamson N, Silva W (2008) Summary of the Abrahamson & Silva NGA ground-motion relations. Earthq Spectr 24(1):67–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys NN, Jackson JA (1998) Faulting associated with historical and recent earthquakes in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Geophys J Int 133(2):390–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antoniou S, Pinho R (2004) Development and verification of a displacement-based adaptive pushover procedure. J Earthq Eng 8(5):643–661

    Google Scholar 

  • ATC (2005) Improvement of nonlinear static seismic analysis procedures. FEMA-440, ATC, California, USA

  • Augenti N, Cosenza E, Dolce M, Manfredi G, Masi A, Samela L (2004) Performance of school buildings during the 2002 Molise, Italy, Earthquake. Earthq Spectr 20(S1):S257–S270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Sarno L, Yenidogan C, Erdik M (2007) Field evidence and numerical investigation of the Mw = 7.1 October 23 Van, Tabanlı and the MW > 5.7 November earthquakes of 2011. Bull Earthq Eng 11:313–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolce M (2004) Seismic safety of schools in Italy. In: Yelland R, Tucker B (eds) Keeping schools safe in earthquakes, chapter 3. OECD, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Elgin K (2009) Istanbul seismic risk mitigation and emergency preparedness project (ISMEP). In: Improving the seismic performance of existing buildings and other structures, pp 1129–1140

  • Erdik M, Kamer Y, Demircioglu M, Sesetyan K (2012) 23 October 2011 Van (Turkey) earthquake. Nat Hazards 64(1):651–665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fielding FJ, Lundgrena PR, Taymaz T, Yolsal-Cevikbilen S, Owena SE (2013) Fault-slip source models for the 2011 M 7.1 Van Earthquake in Turkey from SAR interferometry, pixel offset tracking, GPS, and seismic waveform analysis. Seismol Res Lett 84(4):579–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant D, Bommer J, Pinho R, Calvi G, Goretti A, Meroni F (2007) A prioritisation scheme for Seismic intervention in school buildings in Italy. Earthq Spectr 23(2):291–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gülkan P (2004) Obstracles to improving seismic safety of school buildings in Turkey. In: Yelland R, Tucker B (eds) Keeping schools safe in earthquakes, chapter 3. OECD, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Gülkan P, Ceken U, Colakoglu Z, Ugras T, Kuru T, Apak A, Anderson JG, Sucuoglu H, Celebi M, Akkar DS, Yazgan U, Denizlioglu AZ (2007) Enhancement of the national strong-motion network in Turkey. Seismol Res Lett 78:429–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ITU Report (2012) Assessment Report on Damaged School Buildings in Van. Report Prepared for the Governership of Van (in Turkish)

  • Jayaram N, Baker JW (2009) Correlation model for spatially distributed ground-motion intensities. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 38:1687–1708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaltakci MY, Arslan MH, Yilmaz US, Arslan HD (2008) A new approach on the strengthening of primary school buildings in Turkey: an application of external shear wall. Build Environ 43(6):983–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López OA, Hernández JJ, Del Re G, Puig J, Espinosa L (2007) Reducing seismic risk of school buildings in Venezuela. Earthq Spectr 23(4):771–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mander JB, Priestley MJN, Park R (1998) Theoretical stress-strain model for confined concrete. J Struct Eng 114(8):1804–1826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menegotto M, Pinto PE (1973) Method of analysis for cyclically loaded R.C. plane frames including changes in geometry and non-elastic behaviour of elements under combined normal force and bending. In Symposium on the resistance and ultimate deformability of structures acted on by well defined repeated loads 1973, International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, Zurich, Switzerland, pp 15–22

  • Penelis G (2001) Pre-earthquake assessment of public buildings in Greece. In: International workshop on seismic assessment and rehabilitation of structures. Athens Greece

  • SeismoStruct (2014) A computer program for static and dynamic nonlinear analysis of framed structures. http://www.seismosoft.com. Seismosoft 2014

  • Smyrou E, Tasiopoulou P, Bal İE, Gazetas G (2011) Ground motions versus geotechnical and structural damage in the Christchurch February 2011 earthquake. Seismol Res Lett 82(6):882–892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence R (2007) Saving lives in earthquakes: successes and failures in seismic protection since 1960. Bull Earthq Eng 5:139–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TS EN12504-1 (2002) Testing concrete in structures—part 1: cored specimens—taking, examining and testing in compression 2002. Turkish Institute of Standardization, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Turkish Earthquake Code (1975) Specifications for the buildings to be constructed in disaster areas. Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Turkish Earthquake Code (1998) Specifications for the buildings to be constructed in disaster areas. Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

  • Turkish Earthquake Code (2007) Specifications for the buildings to be constructed in earthquake hazardous areas. Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, Ankara

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The steel rebar tests were conducted in the material laboratory of Sakarya University under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Mustafa Kutanis. The structural drawings of the school buildings were found thanks to the immense help from Asst. Prof. Mustafa Kutanis from Sakarya Univ., Asst. Prof. Ercan Işık from Bitlis Eren Univ., and Fikret Kuran from Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü in Ankara. Their contribution is thankfully acknowledged. Efforts of several ITU members who assisted the damage assessment surveys in the aftermath of 2011 Van earthquakes are also appreciated. Names, coordinates and other data of the schools were extracted from the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Education (www.meb.gov.tr), but schools are referred by acronyms instead of their full names.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Management Institute, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

    İhsan Engin Bal

  2. Senso Engineering Ltd., ITU Teknopark, Istanbul, Turkey

    Eleni Smyrou

Authors
  1. İhsan Engin Bal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eleni Smyrou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to İhsan Engin Bal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bal, İ.E., Smyrou, E. Simulation of the earthquake-induced collapse of a school building in Turkey in 2011 Van Earthquake. Bull Earthquake Eng 14, 3509–3528 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-016-0001-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-016-0001-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation