Analysis of the structural effects of the 6 February Kahramanmaras earthquakes in Hatay

On February 6, 2023, two consecutive major earthquakes with moment magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.6 struck southeastern Türkiye, becoming one of the most devastating seismic events in the country's recent history. The Pazarcık and Elbistan-centered earthquakes generated over 450 km of surface rupture, with strong ground motions felt across an area exceeding 1100 square kilometers. Severe destruction occurred in 11 provinces. This thesis investigates the multifaceted structural impacts of these earthquakes on the Hatay province, with a particular focus on ground conditions, structural irregularities, and strong-motion parameters. As part of the study, detailed field observations were made in Hatay. These observations included the types of damage occurring in reinforced concrete buildings, structural irregularities, ground characteristics and the effects of aftershocks. Seismic records obtained from stations after the earthquake were compared with the design values specified in the Turkish Building Earthquake Code. It was clear that the strong ground motions exceeded the design values significantly. In areas with high and loose groundwater, liquefaction and settlements were clearly observed, along with soil amplification. Buildings with irregularities in their structural systems, low-quality materials, poor ductility, and inadequate engineering services were found to have suffered significant collapse or become unusable. The findings show that the widespread structural failures in Hatay were not solely due to high ground motion, but were driven by the complex interaction of weak soils and an irregular, vulnerable building stock.