Post-Earthquake Mechanical Performance and Geological Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structures Damaged in the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

OpenAlex İngilizce

The 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence, consisting of two major earthquakes ( M w 7.8 and M w 7.5) that occurred on the same day in southeastern Türkiye, caused extensive structural damage and severe site‐related impacts across the affected region. This study investigates the post‐earthquake mechanical performance and durability characteristics of concrete and reinforcement samples collected from earthquake‐damaged reinforced concrete (RC) structures in the Antakya and Düziçi regions. Laboratory analyses including capillary water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, and tensile tests were conducted to evaluate earthquake‐induced material deterioration and residual structural integrity. The results revealed that concretes from Düziçi exhibited higher sorptivity, lower UPV values, and compressive strengths generally below 20 MPa, indicating severe microcracking and increased pore connectivity. In contrast, the Antakya specimens maintained comparatively denser matrices and higher compressive strength values (~25 MPa). The findings demonstrate that intense seismic loading, together with local geological and construction‐related conditions, significantly influenced the deterioration behavior of RC materials. The study highlights the importance of comprehensive post‐earthquake material characterization for reliable damage assessment and for improving future seismic design, rehabilitation, and resilience strategies in earthquake‐prone regions.