The Effects of Shotcrete Strengthening on the Seismic Vulnerability of an Existing Masonry Building Damaged in the 6th of February Kahramanmaraş Türkiye Earthquakes

This study investigates the effects of shotcrete strengthening on the seismic performance of a masonry building damaged during the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Türkiye. Three models were analyzed using SAP2000 software: the unmodified building (model ES) and two variants reinforced with shotcrete (models SRS and SRSM). Modal and time history analyses were performed using earthquake records from the Pazarcık (Mw 7.7) and Elbistan (Mw 7.6) events. The results indicate that shotcrete reinforcement significantly increases the structural stiffness and reduces the natural periods in the reinforced models. Time history analysis revealed that displacements and stress values were significantly reduced in the reinforced models, with the SRSM model exhibiting the lowest stress values. Additionally, cost analysis demonstrated that shotcrete reinforcement is economically viable, with costs below the threshold recommended by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change. Unlike many previous studies on the analysis and strengthening of masonry structures, this research is the first to investigate the strengthening of a masonry building damaged in the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes using dry-mix shotcrete in combination with steel mesh reinforcement. As significant research gaps still exist in the field of masonry strengthening, this study aims to address these gaps and contribute new knowledge. The results show that shotcrete strengthening offers a scalable, cost-effective, and practical solution for retrofitting earthquake-damaged masonry buildings. These results highlight the effectiveness of shotcrete in improving the seismic performance of masonry structures.