Faculty members of Sakarya University of Applied Sciences (SUAS) inspected the building damages caused by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Durres, Albania on November 26, and the effects of the earthquake on the buildings.

The investigation delegation consisting of Prof. Naci Çağlar, Assist Prof. Isa Vural, Assist Prof. Osman Kırtel and Assist Prof. Yusuf Sümer conducted an examination and evaluation on the damaged buildings throughout the city of Durres after the earthquake. The delegation collected data using non-destructive testing methods to identify measurings, reinforcements and material strengths in order to evaluate damaged buildings.

In the examinations, the carrier system type, soft-story and weak story condition, short columns, facade and partition walls, stair system, material strength and quality, workmanship quality and ground problems and accordingly ground subsidence issues were primarily handled.

“Buildings do not conform to the structural standards”

After the examinations on damaged buildings, SUAS Vice Rector and Faculty of Technology Civil Engineering faculty member Prof. Naci Çağlar stated that the concrete strength did not meet the required standard, the reinforcement spacing and layout were not applied according to the project details, the adequate coupling ratio was not provided in the reinforcements and the reinforcements were not sufficiently protected from external effects causing excessive corrosion problems. In addition, the investigations conducted on the damaged masonry structures in the region concluded that the load-bearing walls were not built according to the implementing rules, the strength and quality of the mortar used were both not sufficient to bind the load-bearing bricks, the vertical and horizontal bond beam application was not carried out and excessive damage occurred as a result of the insufficient wall workmanship.

Çağlar stated that a detailed report would be announced in the coming weeks after the findings of the field are evaluated.