Comparison of the Observed and Numerical Performance of a Seismic Isolated Hospital

Abstract

The southeastern region of Turkiye was struck by powerful earthquakes on February 6, 2023, with magnitudes measuring M7.7 and M7.6. These earthquakes resulted in significant damage, destruction, and loss of life, affecting both Türkiye and extending into northern Syria. Among the approximately 100 isolated buildings in Turkiye, 11 isolated hospitals were located in the impacted region. This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the seismic performance of the seismically isolated Osmaniye State Hospital during the Kahramanmaras earthquakes. The evaluation comprises site observations and numerical analysis utilizing ground motion records obtained from the nearest accelerometers. Site observations involved monitoring the movements of the isolators located at the moats around the perimeter of the hospital. Using a borescope allowed for detailed internal inspection of the isolation bearings, facilitating close-up examination of the isolators and enabling the identification of movement scuff marks on the sliding surfaces. These observations were used to estimate the maximum isolation bearing movement and determine the residual displacement offset of the bearings. The observed displacements of the isolation system were compared with the design values to assess the performance of the seismically isolated structure. Discrepancies between the observed and designed displacements provide valuable insights into the actual behavior of the isolation system. A nonlinear time history analysis was conducted using ground motion records obtained from the nearest accelerometers to further analyze the seismic response. This numerical analysis allowed for the simulation of earthquake excitations and the evaluation of the dynamic behavior of the seismically isolated Osmaniye State Hospital. The combination of site observations and numerical analysis yielded important findings regarding the seismic performance of the seismically isolated Osmaniye State Hospital during the Kahramanmaras earthquakes. The comparison between observed and design displacements provided insights into the efficacy of the isolation system, while the numerical analysis further validated the structural response. These findings contribute to improving the design and implementation of seismically isolated structures. © 2024, International Association for Earthquake Engineering. All rights reserved.