Cost Comparison of Reinforced Concrete Structures Designed According to Turkish and European Earthquake Codes

Design codes provide methods to analyze and design structures according to different types of risks the structure may suffer, and they differ from each other in several aspects, such as load combinations and earthquake loads evaluation. In this study, the cost of the building designed according to both Turkish and European codes are compared, and cost-effectiveness is measured. The objective of the study is to identify which code provides a more economically feasible design. In consideration of seismic risk, Turkey is regarded to be one of the most hazardous places in the world. Since the case structure is located in Istanbul, in a zone with a high PGA (0,4g), the comparison of the designs will result in more distinctive outcomes about the cost-effectiveness of the codes. After the design of the structure is completed according to both codes, respectively, the bill of quantities for each is calculated, and costs are estimated for the structure. The cost estimation showed that the Turkish Earthquake Code is more economical than the European one. As the world goes into a deeper economic recession, the cost of the design plays a paramount role in being sustainable as well as resilient