Damage Observation of Reinforced Concrete Buildings after 2020 Sivrice (Elazığ) Earthquake, Turkey

Abstract

An earthquake with a magnitude of Mw=6.8 and a depth of approximately 8.06 km occurred on January 24, 2020, with the epicenter near the town of Sivrice in Elazığ province, Turkey. The earthquake resulted in numerous collapses and severe structural damage to the buildings located in the downtowns and villages of Elazığ and Malatya provinces. A technical team investigated the earthquake-affected areas, and this study presents their observations and findings with respect to reinforced concrete buildings. It was concluded that almost all of the collapsed or severely-damaged reinforced concrete buildings were constructed between 1975 and 1998. The design and construction of these buildings did not comply with the specifications of the Turkish earthquake codes valid at that time. The failures and severe damage of the buildings are associated with poor material quality, inadequate reinforcement configuration, and framing problems related to their lateral load-carrying systems. Therefore, it is recommended that buildings constructed between 1975 and 1998 in the region be structurally re-evaluated to avoid additional loss of life and property in future earthquakes.