State of the Art in Application of Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation in Turkey

Abstract

This paper summarizes the passive structural control system applications and other related developments in Turkey, emphasizing the period between 2019 and 2022. The country hosts state-of-the-art seismic isolation applications, relatively greater in size, and use more isolators in each project (415 isolators per building on average) compared to the other seismic isolation projects worldwide. Construction of the world's largest seismic isolated building, Istanbul Basaksehir Pine and Sakura City Hospital, covering more than 1 million square meters of area and employing more than 2000 seismic isolators, was completed and has been in service since May 2020. 1915 Canakkale Bridge, constructed in memory of the great war of Canakkale during World War I, is now the world's longest suspension bridge with a 2023m main span length. Eight massive hydraulic dampers were used at the main deck and 48 at the approach viaducts in combination with 72 seismic isolators. Construction of a residential building complex in Istanbul consisting of 16 isolated blocks covering more than 170,000 m(2) area and having 454 seismic isolators is coming to an end very soon. Historical Nusretiye Clock Tower in Istanbul was relocated a few meters over seismic isolators. Historical Goztepe Railway Station in Istanbul was retrofitted to accommodate an additional railway line using seismic isolation technology. Seismic codes for buildings and bridges now include rules for the seismically isolated design of structures. Additionally, all seismic isolation designs must be peer-reviewed by law. A new seismic isolator testing facility was established in Eskisehir to respond to the demand for the large number of isolators that need to be tested.