Seismic Rehabilitation of a Reinforced Concrete School in Northern Cyprus Following the 2023 Turkey Earthquake Sequences

In 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey, causing severe damage to residential and critical infrastructure. In response, the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus launched a program to rehabilitate educational facilities. This study examines the rehabilitation efforts at Atatürk Technical High School in Nicosia. A nonlinear time-history analysis was conducted to assess the building's seismic behavior, lateral load resistance, and plastic deformation during main shock and aftershock sequences. Shear walls and steel X-braced frames were subsequently integrated into the building's lateral load-resisting system, and their effectiveness was evaluated. The analysis indicated that the original structure would likely experience life safety risks and structural damage in vertical elements, with some parts at risk of collapse after the second loading sequence. In contrast, the rehabilitated structure demonstrated immediate occupancy performance, with no plastic hinge formation in either direction. The maximum roof displacement was also reduced to as little as one-third of that in the original structure.