Seismic Performance of Traditional Stone Masonry Dwellings under Çanakkale Seismic Sequences

Abstract

In the first quarter of 217, many seismic events occurred in the Çanakkale region, located on the west edge of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). The number of the shakings with a magnitude greater than four (Mw>4) was 23, and the strongest one, with a magnitude of 5.3 (Mw), occurred three times in this sequence. The tectonic settings and seismicity of the region are outlined briefly, and the recorded strong ground motions are analyzed. Effects of these moderate earthquakes on the regional dwellings are also studied. The earthquake-induced damages are determined after the completion of the sequence, and the observed failure and crack patterns are examined. Finally, the seismic performance of these buildings is compared to those in the Ağrı and Elazığ regions, since the same level of earthquakes hit and damaged regional buildings in these Turkish provinces in the past. In this respect, the comparison of the general characteristics of the traditional dwellings with the identified damages in different regions is the final goal of the presented study.