Three dimensional shear wave velocity (Vs) structure and dynamic soil properties of Adıyaman-Gölbaşı basin using HVSR and SPAC methods

On February 6, 2023, two devastating earthquakes (Mw 7.8 and Mw 7.6) struck southeastern Türkiye, two of the most destructive seismic events in the country's history. This study investigates the structural damage and seismic vulnerability in the Gölbaşı Basin, located in Adıyaman Province—one of the regions most severely affected by these events. Geophysical techniques, the HVSR (Nakamura) and spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) methods, were employed to develop shear wave velocity (Vs) profiles and evaluate the dynamic soil properties of the basin. Shear wave velocities within the Gölbaşı Basin, down to a depth of 300 m, range from 211 to 923 m/s, with the lowest values observed near the lake, indicating weak and loose soil conditions. Natural site periods vary between 0.1 s and 2.86 s, with the longest periods (T > 2.5 s) also concentrated in the vicinity of the lake. In areas where the engineering bedrock (Vs > 760 m/s) lies deeper than 250 m, natural periods frequently exceed 1.5 s. These findings suggest that zones with thick alluvial deposits and low Vs values are particularly susceptible to seismic hazards. Structural damage was most severe in areas where Vs is below 350 m/s, site periods exceed 1 s, and the engineering bedrock lies deeper than 50 m. Notably, low-rise industrial buildings and low-rise structures with basement floors remained intact despite poor soil conditions. In contrast, in areas with more competent ground conditions, structural collapses were more likely caused by deficiencies in engineering design or construction quality. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd