Seismic performance evaluation of an existing rc building considering the earthquake code regulations

As well as the loss of human lives, destructive earthquakes cause significant amounts of damages to existing structures in Turkey where most of the land area settles on various seismic zones. Therefore, engineering structures need to be evaluated subjected to a maximum probable seismic force that might be encountered during a future earthquake event. Henceforth it is crucial to analyze building inventory for maximum credible earthquakes, in order to minimize damage and injuries. Being enforced in 2007, the latest Turkish Earthquake Design Code (TEDC) introduces a new chapter in which methodologies for evaluating the seismic performances of existing buildings are clearly defined. However, the nonlinear time history analysis procedure is considered herein this study and the procedure is applied to an existing RC building which has frame structural system. The building was designed according to the regulations of the 1975 version of the TEDC. During the dynamic analysis 4 artificial ground motions are employed and structural responses are calculated. The elements of the structural system are evaluated in terms of their internal forces as well as the deformations and later these response values are compared with the code limits for giving a decision about the expected damage level. Since there is a lack of numerical limits to define the damage states by means of interstory drift ratios, ASCE 41-06 values are taken into account. In the first chapter of this study, the main target and the content of the thesis is given, as well as the previous studies on the topic. In the second chapter, definitions on the nonlinear behavior of RC structural elements and systems are briefly given. Furthermore, nonlinear analysis methods concerned with the definition of plastic hinges are described. In the third chapter of the study, after giving a brief summary of the performance evaluation procedure defined in the TEDC, the damage limits; building performance levels and multiple performance objectives are summarized. Much detailed information of the nonlinear time history analysis procedure is provided also in this section. In the fourth chapter, following the introduction of the existing RC condo building's general characteristics, nonlinear dynamic analyses are carried out and finally seismic performance analysis is performed considering the regulations of TEDC.In the last chapter, numerical analysis results are discussed and compared to the linear elastic performance analysis findings.