Structural defects observed at state buildings

Abstract

Although, state buildings are designed with higher building importance factors with respect to other buildings, they are damaged and collapsed in medium and large scale earthquakes occurred throughout the 14 year period starting from 1992 Erzincan Earthquake. Buildings, used for medical, educational, governmental and security purposes, have to be non-damaged and they should satisfy immediate occupancy after design earthquakes. In this study, structural deficiencies in 105 state buildings, of which seismic vulnerability assessment has been done in recent years, are investigated. Examples of different problems, which are not observed in other buildings mostly, are given.