Seismic performance evaluation of school buildings subjected to 2011 van earthquakes

Being an Eastern Turkey province and accommodating a total number of 209 public kindergarten, primary and high school complexes; Van was struck by a destructive earthquake of M_L6.7 (M_w7.1 USGS) on October 23, 2011. Severe damage was observed in Ercis district as well as the settlement areas throughout the shores of Lake Van. With a population of one million people, the earthquake left Van and the surroundings with 604 human loss and more than 2000 injured including the 222 who were saved under the ruins of the collapsed buildings and a number of 58 totally collapsed buildings including schools. 17 days after this event, another earthquake of M_L5.6 (M_w5.7) shook the region again on the 9^th of November affecting mostly Van city center this time with 40 casualties and 25 totally collapsed buildings. After both events, damage assessment teams from three Turkish Universities were appointed by the Ministry of National Education to investigate the actual structural damages of public school building. Teams of Istanbul Technical University including the two authors of this paper inspected 101 school complexes consisting of 193 buildings. After eliminating the school buildings which can be in immediate service or in service after a minor repair and those to be demolished due to the heavy structural damages, strengthening a number of 51 moderately damaged schools is found to be economically feasible by the Governorship of Van. This paper exhibits the structural characteristics, design details and structural performances of 23 moderately damaged school buildings considering their as-built systems.