The fact that a large part of Turkey is located in an earthquake zone makes it necessary to build earthquake-resistant and safe structures in the construction sector. The major earthquakes we have experienced in recent years have once again demonstrated the vital importance of building technologies and material choices. In this article, we will examine the advantages of lightweight building elements, especially sandwich panels, and their role in creating safe structures in earthquake zones.

Earthquake Dynamics and Importance of Building Weight

The horizontal forces acting on a structure during an earthquake are directly proportional to its total mass. According to this basic principle of physics:

Earthquake Force = Mass of Structure × Earthquake Momentum

the force acting on a lighter structure at the same earthquake intensity will be less than a heavy structure. This is where lightweight structural elements come into play.

Contribution of Sandwich Panels to Earthquake Performance

The sandwich panels we produce as Anadolu Panel significantly reduce the total weight of buildings, as they are much lighter than traditional building elements. This lightness advantage provides the following gains in earthquakes:

1. Reduced Seismic Loads: Since the earthquake forces acting on a lighter structure will be lower, the stress to which the structure is subjected is reduced.
2. More Flexible Structural Behavior: The use of lightweight elements changes the natural vibration period of the structure and in some cases can reduce the risk of resonance.
3. Protection of the Structural System: The reduced weight of the structure alleviates the loads on the structural system and allows critical structural elements such as columns and beams to perform better.

Advantages of Panel Systems in Prefabricated Buildings

Prefabricated systems are increasingly preferred for building fast, safe and durable structures in earthquake zones. Sandwich panel systems are one of the prominent solutions in this field:

Fast Installation and Dismantling

The prefabricated panel systems offered by Anadolu Panel offer fast installation, requiring minimum labor and equipment on site. This feature:

• Meeting emergency shelter needs after an earthquake
• Establishment of temporary health facilities
• Provides critical advantage in the creation of disaster management centers.

The Importance of Joint Details

Joining points of building elements are of great importance in earthquake performance. Special joint details in Anadolu Panel products:

• High flexibility capability
• Energy damping capacity
• It provides resistance to lateral forces during earthquakes.

Example Projects from Turkey

In recent years, there have been many successful projects built using lightweight structural elements in various earthquake zones of Turkey:

• Temporary Structures After the Van Earthquake: After the 2011 Van earthquake, the buildings, which were rapidly constructed using lightweight panel systems, met the sheltering needs of earthquake victims and showed high performance in subsequent aftershocks.
• New Structures in Elazığ and Malatya: After the 2020 earthquake, the structures built in the region using lightweight sandwich panel systems set an example in terms of both energy efficiency and earthquake safety.
• February 6, 2023 Lessons Learned from the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes: This recent major disaster has once again emphasized the importance of the materials and construction techniques used in buildings. Permanent and temporary structures built using lightweight construction elements in the post-earthquake region shed light on future projects.

Current Approaches in Building Regulations

The latest revisions of the Turkish Building Earthquake Code also include regulations on the use of lightweight structural elements. The regulations define the criteria required for the safe behavior of non-structural elements (infill walls, facades, etc.) during earthquakes.

Anadolu Panel products are manufactured and certified in accordance with all technical specifications required by these regulations.

Result

In our country, which will continue to live with the reality of earthquakes, every step to be taken in terms of building safety is of vital importance. Lightweight building elements and especially sandwich panel systems offer an important alternative in the construction of earthquake-resistant structures thanks to their advantages in terms of engineering principles and their practical applicability.

As Anadolu Panel, we continue to work for safer buildings and a safer future with our products that we continuously develop with our R&D studies.

Note: The information contained in this blog post is for general information purposes. It is recommended to refer to the relevant regulations and professional engineering services for building design.