Seismic Performance Improvement of Masonry Houses

Summary

Development and dissemination of strengthening techniques for masonry houses of poor residents living under seismic risk in Turkey in an affordable and sustainable manner by using scrap tires.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Turkey, located in the conjunction of major plates, is prone to intense and frequent seismic activity. Poor residents of masonry houses generally construct their own houses in Turkey without any engineering services and are vulnerable to earthquakes. Masonry construction constitutes close to half of the building stock in Turkey. Life losses during frequent earthquakes can be economically minimized by recycling otherwise useless scrap tires in an environment friendly approach.

How will this project solve this problem?

The project has 3 basic stages: Laboratory Test, Field Application, and Dissemination of Results. Development of alternative techniques and dissemination/training of poor/undereducated residents (CDD) are the most important activities.

Potential Long Term Impact

The expected target house population of the project is approximately 3,000 houses [out of 7,000]. Retrofitting only half of them might secure some 1,500 houses and about 15,000 people and their belongings. About 60,000 scrap tires would be recycled.

Project Message

My country suffered about 18,000 deaths over the last 20 years & close to 60,000 since 1958. Poor residents of masonry houses should no longer see earthquake losses as an act of God and take measures
- Ahmet Türer, Assistant Professor and Project Coordinator

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources