Evaluation of seismic resistance of traditional ottoman timber frame houses

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Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi, İnşaat Mühendisliği Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2011

Öğrenci: YASEMİN DİDEM AKTAŞ

Eş Danışman: AHMET TÜRER, NERİMAN ŞAHİN GÜÇHAN

Özet:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the seismic resistance of traditional Ottoman timber frame “hımış” structures, which form the major part of Turkey’s cultural heritage, from an engineering point of view. On the other hand, the seismic resistance of traditional Ottoman timber frame structures was not evaluated from an engineering perspective. For the aim of seismic resistance evaluation of traditional Ottoman timber frame houses, the TUBITAK (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) project numbered 106M499 was carried out. Within this framework, 16 tests were carried out in the Structural Mechanics Laboratory of Middle East Technical University, by means of 8 1-1 scale timber frames of different geometrical configurations and material, carefully selected from traditional houses in Safranbolu, representing Ottoman timber frame “hımış” technique. The frames were tested without and with different infill/covering types, and parameters that directly or indirectly indicate the behavior of a structure under earthquake loading were derived from the results obtained at the end of experimental work. In addition, capacity calculations were carried out for each test, using ATC-40 procedure. The results demonstrated that Ottoman timber frame “hımış” houses are seismically resistant, and yet there are a number of important points that should be obeyed in their construction regarding size of diagonal elements, size and placement of openings, intervals between vertical studs, as well as connection details. It is also seen that certain infill/covering materials/methods are more advantageous than the others; for example, covering techniques results in a higher amount of maximum lateral load that the frame can bear under the same displacement. Infill with masonry blocks results in a larger increase in weight than in load bearing capacity. The conclusions drawn are intended to be used not only in the conservation of such structures but they are also expected to direct modern seismically resistant constructions.