Performance evaluation of damaged reinforced concrete residential buildings during the Aegean Sea earthquake of 30 October, 2020

Purpose – A severe earthquake with an instrumental magnitude of Mw 6.9 struck between the north of Samos Island in the Aegean Sea and Doganbey-Izmir offshore at 14:51 local time (11:51 Greenwich Mean Time) on 30 October, 2020. In this study, the types and causes of damage in reinforced concrete (RC) residential buildings in the Bayrakli Region were examined and evaluated from in situ data. Design/methodology/approach – The earthquake performance of the architectural, structural, material and ground properties of the buildings in question was evaluated in this study by means of the literature review of past earthquakes, earthquake codes, laboratory concrete strength tests and the comparative analysis method. According to the evaluation data, the effectiveness degree of the damage causes according to the damage types was determined. In conclusion, the effectiveness degree of the damage caused according to the damage types was evaluated. Findings – According to the evaluation data, the effectiveness degree of the damage caused according to the damage types was determined. It is understood that the earthquake is not a design earthquake, as the peak ground acceleration value (0.106 g) is below the limit value (0.455 g). A list of the most effective causes of damage that rendered catastrophic damage include soft story irregularities in terms of architecture, shear wall area and/or floor area and inaccurate beam-column joint detailing in terms of structure, low concrete compressive strength in terms of material, ground type, resonance effects in terms of ground properties, foundation system and ground amplification effect. Originality/value – The effectiveness degree of the damage caused according to the damage types architecture – structure, material and ground properties – as well as the magnitude and characteristics of the earthquake and the damage mechanisms in mid-rise reinforced concrete residential buildings are evaluated from a holistic perspective.