Failures of masonry dwelling triggered by East Anatolian Fault earthquakes in Turkey

Abstract

Turkey is located on active fault zones such as the East Anatolian Fault (EAF), the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) and the Anatolian-Aegean Subduction Zone (AASZ). Ground seismicity activities of the NAF zone are relatively active compared with other faults. Eleven high-intensity earthquakes have been produced on this fault zone since 1939. Whereas the EAF zone was relatively quiescent in the last century, on the basis of historical records, destructive seismic activities occurred on the EAF zone in the last two decades. In this study, the rupture reason of faults, updated active fault data, and seismic maps are presented briefly. Moreover, failure reasons and failure mechanism of conventional masonry structures damaged from seismic ground motions on the EAF zone are evaluated in detail. Possible solutions are suggested on the basis of seismic codes. For this purpose, EAF-sourced earthquakes, i.e. 2003 Bingöl, 2010 Kovancılar (Elazığ), 2011 Maden (Elazığ), 2011 Tabanlı (Van) and Edremit (Van) hit in last two decades on this fault are investigated. Failures of conventional masonry buildings triggered from these earthquakes are assessed. Statistical evaluation, damage of earthquakes and failure pattern are deeply investigated and revealed. Eventually, one of the most significant reasons of severe damage or collapse to masonry structures due to this seismicity is the inability to construct the structures according to the requirements of seismic codes.