ABSTRACT
The researchers tried to find out the structural stability of timber structure buildings by comparing their structural features obtained from the damaged and non damaged houses. Bursa has been exposed to many destructive earthquakes throughout the history; however, the traditional timber structural buildings are able to survive without significant damage. In structural system for some traditional timber framed buildings there are no strong and stiff elements such as bracing to attract the full lateral force of the earthquake. The material properties, type of timber, metal and timber connections, irregularities in plans and elevations, disadvantages and advantages of structural features of these buildings are examined to understand the structural safety. Timber with brick-infill construction is documented to have firs appeared in Turkey is early as the eight century. Earthquakes in Turkey are generally of in-land type and shallow focus earthquakes which are more destructive than offshore earthquakes even their magnitude could be smaller.
