The role of transcurrent fault structures in damage typology during the Izmit and Duzce earthquakes (Turkey, 1999)

The Turkey earthquakes of 17 August (Mw=7.4) and 12 November 1999 (Mw=7.1) took a heavy toll on human lives and properties. The meizoseismal areas included Izmit, Gölcük, Adapazari, Duzce and Bolu. Instrumental and field reconnaissance data confirm the right-lateral reactivation fault segments along the North Anatolian Fault Zone. Along the surficial fault traces, a host of tectonic forms was observed, caused by local changes in the mean geometrical, kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the fault zone. For each case, the types of building damage are described, while we give separate descriptions for building failure caused by the kinematics of the fault blocks themselves. Several cases of building collapse showed that the vast majority of R/C frame structures founded on the fault zone were demolished, while the few that remained standing were rendered inoperable.