Seismic resistance of traditional timber-frame hımış structures in Turkey: a brief overview

Abstract

Abstract:Hımış structures have hardly ever found as extensive a role as other traditional timber housing, such as those originating from Japan or Central Europe, within the wide discourse on the seismic performance of timber-frame architecture that has gained significant momentum in the last few decades owing to advancing testing technologies. While the hımış construction technique was perhaps not born as a result of a conscious search for a seismically resistant building form, it was soon widely appreciated for its structural features advantageous under seismic loading -especially from the 16th century when it has become a well-established construction technique in part of the Balkans and in today's Turkey. Despite widely available anecdotal information based on post-disaster studies regarding its performance under earthquakes, robust quantitative data on the seismic behaviour of these structures were practically non-existent until quite recently, and are still somewhat limited. However, we are now able to confirm that hımış constructions do have intrinsic qualities that are very beneficial under seismic action. This paper aims to make a brief review of the current state of our knowledge on structural performance of hımış buildings under earthquake loading, with specific emphasis on infill/cladding techniques, connection details, and energy dissipation characteristics. Hımış structures have hardly ever found as extensive a role as other traditional timber housing, such as those originating from Japan or Central Europe, within the wide discourse on the seismic performance of timber-frame architecture that has gained significant momentum in the last few decades owing to advancing testing technologies. While the hımış construction technique was perhaps not born as a result of a conscious search for a seismically resistant building form, it was soon widely appreciated for its structural features advantageous under seismic loading -especially from the 16 th century when it has become a well-established construction technique in part of the Balkans and in today's Turkey. Despite widely available anecdotal information based on post-disaster studies regarding its performance under earthquakes, robust quantitative data on the seismic behaviour of these structures were practically non-existent until quite recently, and are still somewhat limited. However, we are now able to confirm that hımış constructions do have intrinsic qualities that are very beneficial under seismic action. This paper aims to make a brief review of the current state of our knowledge on structural performance of hımış buildings under earthquake loading, with specific emphasis on infill/cladding techniques, connection details, and energy dissipation characteristics.

Timber Construction Systems in Anatolian Vernacular Architecture

“…In another type of wooden sheathing applied to timber framework, the wood is laid out vertically. This system, where the wooden slaps are placed on the vertical, is only very seldom used compared to the horizontal system [1]. The most beautiful examples of this system can be seen in the Erzincan Kemaliye Eğin and Malatya Pütürge houses.…”

Mixed Stone-timber Masonry in Traditional Construction: Structural, Architectural and Anti-seismic Features across Europe

“…The region of Turkey has experienced frequent seismic events that were easily overcome by the traditional vernacular hımış (figure 5) [5,14]. Typologically, the Turkish traditional architecture is characterized by a ground floor made of stone bearing walls, that are often laced with horizontal runner beams, and the upper floors made of an infill construction: a timber framework and a masonry infill, the hımış precisely, that is sufficiently light to allow the typical bays and jetties overhanging the streets [15][16]. its primary function of seismic reinforcement, or prevention, as we saw for the Mediterranean basin, to become a simple way to exploit the different mechanical performance of the two materials.…”

Structural Uses of Stone and Timber in The European Historical Construction

“…Typologically, the Turkish traditional architecture is characterized by a ground floor made of stone bearing walls that are often laced with horizontal runner beams, and the upper floors made of an infill construction: A timber framework and a masonry infill, Figure 3. Studies of timber framework for seismic reinforcement [8] the hımış precisely, that is sufficiently light to allow the typical bays and jetties overhanging the streets [15,16] .…”