Methods for determination of seismic performance in multi-storey reinforced concrete buildings and strengthening recommendations.

In this study, it is intended to determine the earthquake performance of an existing building by using Incremental Equivalent Earthquake Load Method which is one of the nonlinear analysis methods presented in Turkish Earthquake Code and strength of the same building. For this purpose, five-story reinforced concrete moment resisting frame building which was constructed in 1986 on Z3 soil type in the city of İzmir is taken into consideration. Architectural and reinforcement projects of the building are provided from corresponding municipality and it is accepted that all material and geometrical properties and reinforcement details are in accordance with the project of the building. Three dimensional analytical model of the building is constituted and pushover analyses are performed by using Incremental Equivalent Earthquake Load Method for corresponding earthquake directions. Seismic performance of the building which was occupied for residential purpose is evaluated under a design earthquake that may be exceeded in a 50-year period with 10 percent probability.According to the results obtained from the seismic performance assessment of the building, it is observed that the building does not satisfy its target Life Safety performance level and it is decided to strength it. The building is strengthened by addition of four shear walls in both directions. After this, pushover analysis of the strengthened building is performed again by using Incremental Equivalent Earthquake Load Method for corresponding earthquake directions and reassessment of the seismic performance of the building under the same earthquake is done.The results of pushover analyses and performance assessments of both existing and strengthened buildings are given with details in the corresponding chapters of the thesis. According to the analysis results, seismic performance of the existing building and the strengthened building are compared and effectiveness of the strengthening method is investigated. Also, a comparison in terms of displacement demands, lateral load resisting demands and strains in concrete and reinforcement steel in section where maximum plastic rotation was calculated is done by considering performance points of two buildings. The results are presented in the thesis and recommendations are made for strengthening methods.Keywords: Incremental Equivalent Earthquake Load Method, Pushover Analysis, Seismic Performance Assessment, Strengthening Methods.