Existing Precast Buildings

In last two decades, as a result of earthquakes, one storey precast buildings that represent majority of industrial building stock of Turkey have damaged significantly. Reconnaissance studies have shown that as well as insufficient stiffness and ductility capacities of buildings, low shear and overturning resistance of hinged connections are the common problems of precast construction. In order to concentrate on connection problems in existing precast buildings, Denizli Organized Industrial Zone, which is one of the important industrial zones of Turkey, was invented. During inventory studies structural properties of precast buildings were determined. Details of hinged connections were obtained from building inventories and shear and overturning capacities of connections were calculated. Seismic demands occurred in connections were calculated by using 40 acceleration records selected from real earthquakes. Shear and overturning demands were then obtained by using non-linear time history analyses and safety of connections was determined. During these studies capacities and demands were compared using force based approach. Results have shown that overturning of roof girder failure yields more critical situation with respect to shear failure of connection. It is also determined that shear and overturning safety of connections decreases depending on the increasing strength and stiffness capacities of buildings