**2. Seismic design and construction practice in Turkey**

Prior to the 1999 earthquakes, two codes governed the design and construction of reinforced concrete and masonry buildings in Turkey: Turkish Earthquake Code (1998) and the Turkish Building Code, TS-500 (1985). The earthquake code included procedures for calculating earthquake loads on buildings. The ductility requirements and details described in the earthquake code were rarely observed in religious or monumental structures inspected by the authors after the 1999 earthquakes. Details of the seismic design and building construction practice prior to the 1999 earthquakes are provided in Sezen et al. (2003).

The descriptions of ground motion characteristics, structural damage, and performance of structures during these earthquakes are provided in Sezen et al. (2003). Response spectra for selected acceleration histories for 5% damping are presented in Figure 1. The ground motions included in Figure 1 were recorded at: SKR station in Adapazari (Peak Ground

© 2012 Sezen and Dogangun, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2012 Sezen and Dogangun, licensee InTech. This is a paper distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Acceleration, PGA 0.41g, stiff soil); YPT station in Yarimca (PGA 0.23g, soft soil); and DZC station in Düzce (PGAs: EW-Aug.17 0.36g, NS-Aug.17 0.31g, EW-Nov.12 0.54g, and NS-Nov.12 0.35g, soft soil). Figure 1 also provides a comparison between the linear elastic acceleration response spectra calculated for rock and that calculated for soft soil sites using the provisions of the Uniform Building Code (UBC, 1997) and those of the Turkish seismic code (1998) with 5 percent damping for the highest seismicity in the United States and in Turkey, respectively. From Figure 1, it can be concluded that, for a structure with given periods of vibration, the difference between the base shear calculated using the 1998 Turkish seismic code and the base shear demand obtained from the recorded acceleration response spectra do not differ significantly. If the static lateral load distribution over the height is suggested by the code is assumed to be credible, structures designed and detailed according to the Turkish code should not have collapsed or suffered severe damage during the 1999 earthquakes.

Seismic Performance of Historical and Monumental Structures 183

more recently constructed structures. Typically locally available stone blocks were used. A special mortar called Horasan mortar was used in historical masonry structures. The Horasan mortar is made by mixing lime with baked clay powder that could be obtained by grinding clay tiles or bricks. The Horasan mortar was commonly used in the Middle East, where use of earthenware, pottery and brick construction were widespread (Çamlbel 1988). Hollow clay tiles or lightweight concrete blocks are used as infill wall material in recently built reinforced concrete (RC) moment frame mosques. Solid clay bricks were used in infill walls of RC mosques built before early 1970s. Almost all historical religious structures in Turkey were constructed using cut stone, masonry blocks or combination of these two materials. Timber construction is rare and reinforced concrete is relatively recent. The structural and geometrical properties of each masonry structure depend on many factors including the structural knowledge and applications at the time of construction, experience of the architect or engineer, seismicity of the region, and availability of construction materials in that area. Recent earthquakes in Turkey have shown that most masonry monumental structures as well as buildings (Ural et al. 2012) in high seismic regions are

Historical structures deteriorate over time mainly due to environmental effects, and therefore may experience failure or collapse under gravity loads or seismic loads lower than those predicted by the design codes. As discussed in Dogangun and Sezen (2012) and Sezen and Dogangun (2009), in many cases, the following factors trigger or exacerbate the damage: (1) Surface or rain water runoff. If the structure and drainage system are not maintained properly, grass or fungus may grow and weaken the structural materials. Water accumulated on or penetrated into structural members may cause cracks due to freezing and thawing. (2) Soil settlement and relative movement of foundation. (3) Insufficient material strength. Layers of clay or other impure materials inside stone blocks may eventually lead to wearing, spalling or cracking. In stone masonry structures, the properties of the mortar significantly influence the strength of the entire structural component such as a load bearing wall. Deterioration of mortar binding the stone blocks, especially poor quality mortar including mud or low quality lime, can reduce the strength and stiffness of the wall considerably. (4) Other problems. Historical structures can be subjected to various environmental and loading conditions depending on their use and geographic location. For example, timber is more susceptible to humidity and temperature variations. Loading from continuous traffic and heavy trucks can lead to vibrations and excessive loads on foundations because the streets and other structures in historical cities are not designed for modern day traffic. Similarly, the use or occupancy of the structure may change and create larger unexpected loads. Parts of older structures are sometimes used as storage, in which the magnitudes of loads are usually much higher. Other local and environmental effects,

Most of the factors presented here result in gradual deterioration of materials or the load carrying structural system, which can be prevented as the damage progresses and becomes visible in many cases. On the other hand, structural damage, failure or total structural collapse occurs suddenly during moderate or strong earthquakes. Thus, it is essential to

vulnerable to structural damage and collapse.

such as acid rains, may adversely affect construction materials.

Specifically, according to Figure 1, a structure with a fundamental period of 0.5 seconds would be subjected to seismic forces larger than those specified in the code. The period of older masonry structures with thick and shorter walls tends to be relatively small, probably 0.5 seconds or less. On the other hand, the minarets or very slender towers tend to be very flexible with relatively large fundamental periods. Figure 1 shows that the recorded spectral accelerations are significantly large at large periods. The authors' field observations after the 1999 earthquakes, especially the November 12 Duzce earthquake (DZC), showed more damage in slender structures like minarets. In addition, among other factors leading to inadequate performance, the extent of damage observed in most reinforced concrete structures including minarets after the 1999 earthquakes is probably related to poor engineering and lack of conformance to the relatively new Turkish seismic code.

**Figure 1.** Absolute Acceleration Response Spectra

#### **2.1. Construction materials and deterioration of historical structures**

In the region affected by the earthquakes, in general, construction materials include stone or brick masonry and wood for older mosques and minarets, steel and reinforced concrete in more recently constructed structures. Typically locally available stone blocks were used. A special mortar called Horasan mortar was used in historical masonry structures. The Horasan mortar is made by mixing lime with baked clay powder that could be obtained by grinding clay tiles or bricks. The Horasan mortar was commonly used in the Middle East, where use of earthenware, pottery and brick construction were widespread (Çamlbel 1988).

182 Earthquake Engineering

earthquakes.

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2

Spectral acceleration (g)

Acceleration, PGA 0.41g, stiff soil); YPT station in Yarimca (PGA 0.23g, soft soil); and DZC station in Düzce (PGAs: EW-Aug.17 0.36g, NS-Aug.17 0.31g, EW-Nov.12 0.54g, and NS-Nov.12 0.35g, soft soil). Figure 1 also provides a comparison between the linear elastic acceleration response spectra calculated for rock and that calculated for soft soil sites using the provisions of the Uniform Building Code (UBC, 1997) and those of the Turkish seismic code (1998) with 5 percent damping for the highest seismicity in the United States and in Turkey, respectively. From Figure 1, it can be concluded that, for a structure with given periods of vibration, the difference between the base shear calculated using the 1998 Turkish seismic code and the base shear demand obtained from the recorded acceleration response spectra do not differ significantly. If the static lateral load distribution over the height is suggested by the code is assumed to be credible, structures designed and detailed according to the Turkish code should not have collapsed or suffered severe damage during the 1999

Specifically, according to Figure 1, a structure with a fundamental period of 0.5 seconds would be subjected to seismic forces larger than those specified in the code. The period of older masonry structures with thick and shorter walls tends to be relatively small, probably 0.5 seconds or less. On the other hand, the minarets or very slender towers tend to be very flexible with relatively large fundamental periods. Figure 1 shows that the recorded spectral accelerations are significantly large at large periods. The authors' field observations after the 1999 earthquakes, especially the November 12 Duzce earthquake (DZC), showed more damage in slender structures like minarets. In addition, among other factors leading to inadequate performance, the extent of damage observed in most reinforced concrete structures including minarets after the 1999 earthquakes is probably related to poor

engineering and lack of conformance to the relatively new Turkish seismic code.

1998 Turkish, rock 1997 UBC, rock 1998 Turkish , soft soil 1997 UBC, soft soil SKR YPT DZC

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2

Spectral acceleration (g)

<sup>0</sup> 0.5 <sup>1</sup> 1.5 <sup>2</sup> 2.5 <sup>3</sup> <sup>0</sup>

Code � Rock Code � Soft soil DZC�NS (Aug. 17) DZC�EW (Aug. 17) DZC�NS (Nov. 12) DZC�EW (Nov. 12)

Period (sec)

In the region affected by the earthquakes, in general, construction materials include stone or brick masonry and wood for older mosques and minarets, steel and reinforced concrete in

**2.1. Construction materials and deterioration of historical structures** 

**Figure 1.** Absolute Acceleration Response Spectra

<sup>0</sup> 0.5 <sup>1</sup> 1.5 <sup>2</sup> 2.5 <sup>3</sup> <sup>0</sup>

Period (sec)

Hollow clay tiles or lightweight concrete blocks are used as infill wall material in recently built reinforced concrete (RC) moment frame mosques. Solid clay bricks were used in infill walls of RC mosques built before early 1970s. Almost all historical religious structures in Turkey were constructed using cut stone, masonry blocks or combination of these two materials. Timber construction is rare and reinforced concrete is relatively recent. The structural and geometrical properties of each masonry structure depend on many factors including the structural knowledge and applications at the time of construction, experience of the architect or engineer, seismicity of the region, and availability of construction materials in that area. Recent earthquakes in Turkey have shown that most masonry monumental structures as well as buildings (Ural et al. 2012) in high seismic regions are vulnerable to structural damage and collapse.

Historical structures deteriorate over time mainly due to environmental effects, and therefore may experience failure or collapse under gravity loads or seismic loads lower than those predicted by the design codes. As discussed in Dogangun and Sezen (2012) and Sezen and Dogangun (2009), in many cases, the following factors trigger or exacerbate the damage: (1) Surface or rain water runoff. If the structure and drainage system are not maintained properly, grass or fungus may grow and weaken the structural materials. Water accumulated on or penetrated into structural members may cause cracks due to freezing and thawing. (2) Soil settlement and relative movement of foundation. (3) Insufficient material strength. Layers of clay or other impure materials inside stone blocks may eventually lead to wearing, spalling or cracking. In stone masonry structures, the properties of the mortar significantly influence the strength of the entire structural component such as a load bearing wall. Deterioration of mortar binding the stone blocks, especially poor quality mortar including mud or low quality lime, can reduce the strength and stiffness of the wall considerably. (4) Other problems. Historical structures can be subjected to various environmental and loading conditions depending on their use and geographic location. For example, timber is more susceptible to humidity and temperature variations. Loading from continuous traffic and heavy trucks can lead to vibrations and excessive loads on foundations because the streets and other structures in historical cities are not designed for modern day traffic. Similarly, the use or occupancy of the structure may change and create larger unexpected loads. Parts of older structures are sometimes used as storage, in which the magnitudes of loads are usually much higher. Other local and environmental effects, such as acid rains, may adversely affect construction materials.

Most of the factors presented here result in gradual deterioration of materials or the load carrying structural system, which can be prevented as the damage progresses and becomes visible in many cases. On the other hand, structural damage, failure or total structural collapse occurs suddenly during moderate or strong earthquakes. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the capacity of existing historical structures and to retrofit them before an expected earthquake strikes.
