Post‐earthquake field assessment and damage correlation of elevated reinforced concrete water tanks in Kahramanmaras/Elbistan, Türkiye

Abstract This study evaluates the seismic performance of elevated reinforced concrete (RC) water tanks in the Elbistan region following the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaras–Elbistan earthquakes. Field investigations, visual damage surveys, non‐destructive testing (ultrasonic pulse velocity—UPV), concrete compressive strength measurements, peak ground acceleration (PGA) records, and local soil classifications were integrated for analysis. Tanks on soft and medium‐stiff soils showed moderate to severe damage, while those on stiff soils remained largely undamaged. Higher UPV and concrete strength values correlated with reduced damage, highlighting the importance of material quality and construction detailing. Seismic response was influenced by tank capacity, liquid fill, and site‐specific soil properties. The study examined fluid–structure interaction (FSI), including impulsive and convective water motion, and soil–structure interaction (SSI), showing that FSI dominates base shear and overturning moments while SSI modifies effective seismic demand. The Housner two‐mass model effectively represented FSI, and sloshing contributed notably to overturning moments and column stresses. Results suggest that the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC‐2018) could benefit from performance‐based updates explicitly addressing FSI, SSI, and post‐earthquake assessment, supporting resilient design and risk‐informed management of critical water storage infrastructure.