Investigation of snow-induced collapse in Bozüyük market

Abstract

Heavy snowfall and frost are common phenomena in some areas of Turkey. Since it is an active seismic region, most engineering efforts focus on the impact of seismic loads. Meanwhile, the evaluation of structural and non-structural damages caused by snow loads are less of a concern. Depending on region geographical characteristics, snow is considered one of the most critical loads, especially in the case of large spans industrial structures, sport facilities and malls. This study investigates the snow induced failure of Bozüyük Market in Turkey. An evaluation of the attributed reasons behind the reported collapse is provided. To investigate the critical regions of the structural systems, a finite element model has been generated, linear and nonlinear static push-down analysis are carried out for the collapsed portion of the structure of interest. The snow load calculations are compared in regard to national standards TS 498 and TS EN 1991–1-3. It has been found that the construction defects were the primary reason behind the partially failure of the investigated roof. The paper highlights the urgent need to upgrade the national standards regarding snow loads to go along with the changes in snowfall density and frequency due to accelerated climate change.