Journal of Geoscience and Eco Agricultural Studies

Abstract

The lessons learned from the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence demonstrate that widespread building damage was not inevitable, but was strongly influenced by deficiencies in design implementation and construction practices rather than seismic demand alone. Post-earthquake studies consistently highlight inadequate confinement, poor detailing, and discrepancies between approved design drawings and on-site application. This study builds on a documented severely damaged reinforced concrete frame-wall building in Malatya and quantifies the economic consequence of omitted column confinement reinforcement. The missing stirrup densification and cross-ties in column end regions were quantified by comparing project-compliant and as-built reinforcement quantities. Official 2023-unit prices were then used to calculate the net material-cost difference and its ratio to total building construction cost. The omitted transverse reinforcement amounted to 18,711.85 kg, producing a net cost saving of 281,572 TRY, equivalent to only 0.31% of the estimated total construction cost. Although the result is case-specific, it demonstrates a pronounced structural-economic imbalance: life-safety-critical detailing may be omitted for a marginal financial benefit. The proposed framework provides a transparent basis for discussing detailing compliance, inspection effectiveness, and seismic resilience.