Impact of Near-Fault Seismic Inputs on Building Performance: A Case Study Informed by the 2023 Maras Earthquakes

This study investigates the seismic performance of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, focusing on the influence of near-fault ground motions caused by proximity to fault lines. Compared to ordinary or far-fault earthquakes, near-fault earthquakes may have diverse effects on the response of buildings resulting from directivity and intense velocity pulses, which significantly amplify seismic demands. For this purpose, nonlinear time history analyses were carried out on a seven-story RC residential building that was subjected to near-fault effects and sustained heavy damage during the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on 6 February 2023. The analyses used both near-fault and far-fault ground motion records, and four structural models were developed by gradually reducing the number of shear wall elements to assess the impact of diminishing lateral-load-resisting capacity. The results revealed that near-fault ground motions led to significant increases in base shear, inter-story drift ratios, and structural damage levels. Furthermore, a reduction in shear wall content resulted in a noticeable decline in seismic performance. These findings underscore the necessity of accounting for near-fault effects in seismic design and the critical role of lateral stiffness. The study emphasizes that considering near-fault characteristics is essential for ensuring the seismic resilience of RC buildings located in active seismic zones.