Investigation of the Effects of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes on Low- and Medium-Rise Reinforced Concrete Buildings

On 6 February 2023, two major earthquakes occurred approximately nine hours apart in the Pazarcık (Mw = 7.7) and Elbistan (Mw = 7.6) districts of Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. These devastating earthquakes caused extensive damage in many cities in the region. Kahramanmaraş and Malatya were among the cities most severely affected. Therefore, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya were chosen for this study. The aim was to investigate the effects of the earthquakes on the city centers of the selected cities. Reinforced concrete buildings of four, six, eight, and 10 floors were designed in accordance with Türkiye seismic codes. Linear response spectrum analysis (LRSA) was applied to these buildings according to the Türkiye Earthquake Code 2018 (TEC-2018), the Türkiye Earthquake Code 2007 (TEC-2007), and the Eurocode 8 (EC8). In addition, acceleration records of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were obtained from accelerometer stations near the city centers of the aforementioned cities. Nonlinear time history analysis (NTHA) was performed on sample buildings using these acceleration records. As a result of these analyses, base shear forces and roof displacements were obtained. Design acceleration spectra were obtained according to the Türkiye earthquake codes and the Eurocode 8. Acceleration spectra of the earthquakes were also obtained based on the acceleration records of the earthquakes. A comparison was made between TEC-2007, TEC-2018, and EC8 based on the LRSA calculation results. The calculations show that TEC-2018 is more detailed and realistic than TEC-2007. Furthermore, it was determined that the values obtained according to EC8 were greater than the values obtained according to TEC-2007 and TEC-2018. The results obtained from LRSA and NTHA were compared. It was determined that the results obtained from NTHA were much larger than those obtained from LRSA.