A preliminary analysis of the Tupras Refinery stack collapse during the Kocaeli earthquake of 17 August 1999
Kilic S., Moncarz P., Noakowski P.
CICIND REPORT Vol. 17, No. 1, 2001
Order No: CR-210
This paper describes an investigation into the collapse of a 115m reinforced concrete chimney at the Tupras refinery in Turkey during the 1999 earthquake. It aims to provide basic information about the effect of the brick liner on the dynamic behaviour of the collapsed stack. In this preliminary investigation all of the analysis results are based on linear behaviour using the first three modes. The effect of period elongation due to the additional mass coming from the brick liner is accounted for in the modal analysis. The brick liner is modelled separately using shell elements and is connected to the RC shell through linear springs at the corbel shelves.
The collapse of the brick liner inside the chimney is a possible cause of the collapse of the RC shell. Furthermore, the multiflue liner in the adjacent chimney also collapsed during the earthquake. A similar case, concrete stack collapse, in Texas due to brick liner collapse was studied by two authors of this paper. The analysis shows that the concrete shell can successfully carry the dynamic earthquake loading. However the stability of the brick liner is questionable. A failure of the brick liner can significantly increase the stress in the shell. Indeed, it is believed that the brick liner failure preceded the collapse of the RC shell and that the combined dynamic earthquake stresses and collapsing brick mass impact led to the collapse. It is evident that brick linings are not an ideal solution in earthquake zones, where a lighter and less brittle material should be the solution of choice.