DESIGN OF SEISMIC RETROFITTING USING INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES:

A CASE STUDY ON A SCHOOL BUILDING

Mustafa Görkem Yıldız

(Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Gülüm Tanırcan and Asst. Prof. Cüneyt Tüzün)

ABSTRACT

Seismic retrofitting plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and resilience of structures in earthquake-prone regions. This study investigates the performance of fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) as an alternative retrofitting technique for improving the seismic performance of buildings. The Büyük Halkalı Primary School Building in Istanbul, originally constructed in 1997 and retrofitted twice using conventional methods (in 2006 and 2019), was selected as a case study. The study aims to propose an innovative retrofitting solution that minimizes construction time, operational disruptions, and associated costs while enhancing seismic resilience. A comparative analysis was conducted between the conventional retrofit approach (reinforced concrete shear walls) and the proposed alternative retrofit solution incorporating FVDs. The evaluation considered seismic performance, cost-effectiveness, serviceability, and architectural impact. Nonlinear time-history analyses were performed using TBDY-2018 and ASCE 41-23 standards, with a particular focus on near-fault effects, including forward directivity effects that were not considered in previous retrofits. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of FVDs significantly improved seismic performance by reducing inter-story drift and structural damage. Furthermore, the alternative retrofit method resulted in shorter construction periods and minimized the necessity for building evacuation, ensuring continuous serviceability. The findings highlight that using FVDs in seismic retrofitting can be a viable solution, particularly for structures requiring uninterrupted functionality during construction, such as school buildings.