Aftermath of the February 6 Earthquakes: A Scientific Perspective From GTU on Soil, Structures, and Infrastructure Systems

November 13, 2025 – GTU  Office of Press and Public Relations
 

Researchers from the Department of Civil Engineering at Gebze Technical University (GTU), including Prof. Selçuk Toprak, Assoc. Prof. Abdullah Can Zülfikar, Assoc. Prof. Ahu Kömeç, Asst. Prof. Ülgen Mert-Tuğsal, Engin Nacaroğlu (PhD), Assoc. Prof. Savaş Karabulut, Muhammet Ceylan (PhD), Kamer Özdemir, Sedat Parlak, Oğuz Dal, and Sadra Karimzadeh (PhD), conduct extensive post-earthquake field surveys following the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, where they carry out a multi-layered examination of the performance of soil, structures, and infrastructure systems in the affected region.

Field Observations and Strong Ground Motion Analyses

Shortly after the Pazarcık (Mw 7.7) and Elbistan (Mw 7.6) earthquakes, the GTU research team traveled to the disaster zone to conduct on-site investigations of soil behavior, structural and infrastructural damage, and ground motion records.

The study presents a comprehensive analysis of the interaction between the intense ground motions generated along the East Anatolian Fault Zone and the regional soil conditions and structural characteristics. The findings show that high-acceleration ground motions significantly amplified damage, particularly in areas with weak soil conditions. The team documented widespread liquefaction in the Gölbaşı and İskenderun regions, reporting that these events resulted in soil deformation and permanent damage to infrastructure systems.

Behavior of Structures and Infrastructure Systems
The researchers conducted detailed inspections of buildings, industrial facilities, bridges, and associated infrastructure. The results revealed that structures designed in accordance with local soil conditions demonstrated markedly better seismic performance. Conversely, buildings with weak load-bearing systems, inadequate design criteria, or poor material quality experienced compound collapse mechanisms under high-acceleration shaking.

The team also examined the behavior of water infrastructure under seismic loads, identified safety vulnerabilities in industrial facilities, and assessed the critical role of infrastructure accessibility during search-and-rescue operations. These findings carry strategic importance for improving disaster management policies, defining priorities for urban transformation, and strengthening resilient urban planning.

From Geotechnical Data to Disaster Management Recommendations
By analyzing surface deformations, fault ruptures, and ground acceleration distributions, the study contributes to the scientific foundation of regional risk mapping. Remote sensing and satellite-based imaging provide a rapid and integrated approach to damage assessment.

The recommendations developed through this research offer guidance to decision-makers in strengthening data-driven disaster management mechanisms, scientifically evaluating the building stock, enhancing the resilience of infrastructure systems, and integrating soil-structure interaction into design processes.

GTU’s Scientific Vision for Enhancing Disaster Resilience
GTU continues to enhance Türkiye’s scientific resilience to natural disasters through its interdisciplinary research in earthquake engineering, geotechnics, and structural safety. This study not only presents detailed field observations but also offers scientific guidance for designing the resilient cities of the future.

With its commitment to translating scientific knowledge into societal benefit, GTU advances an engineering vision that supports resilient, informed, and safe construction practices aimed at reducing the impacts of natural hazards.

 📚 Source:

The aftermath of 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes: evaluation of strong motion data, geotechnical, building, and infrastructure issues

Natural Hazards. DOI: 10.1007/s11069-024-06890-