Saudi Journal of Civil Engineering (SJCE)
Volume-2 | Issue-02 | 147-158
Review Article
Analysis of Joints Trends in the area between Al-Rawnah and Al-Huriyah, Northwest of Taiz City, Yemen
Bagash F, Janardhana MR, Abdul-Aleam Ahmed A. Al-Qadhi
Published : Oct. 30, 2018
Abstract
This paper presents the results of systematic analysis of joints trends in the
rock masses exposed in the stretch between Al-Rawnah and Al-Huriyah areas,
northwest of Taiz city, Yemen, using Fabric-8 software technique. From the field
investigations and structural relations between the various lithounits, the exposed rock
masses in the study area are classified into four litho-tectonic units viz., from bottom to
the top:1) basement rocks, 2) Amran limestone rocks, 3) Al-Tawillah sandstone rocks
and 4) volcanic rocks. Results of the study indicate that the rock units of the study area
are cut and deformed by NNW-SSE, NE-SW, WNW-ESE, N-S, and E-W trending
joints. NNW-SSE and NE-SW trends are the most predominant trends influencing the
rock units of the study area. The dominant and major NNW-SSE trend correlates to the
direction of the maximum extensional stress associated with the Red Sea rift system,
while the second one (NE-SW) is perturbed regional stress field related to the direction
of the stress generated during the opening of the Gulf of Aden. The basement rocks are
commonly affected by both vertical and conjugate joints. The conjugate joints are
represented by X and Y types, although T and H types were also recognized. Amran
limestone rocks are affected by subvertical joints in addition to asymmetric with
symmetric joints of veins filled by calcite minerals. Orthogonal cross joins, conjugate
joints, polygonal joints and exfoliation joints were documented in Al-Tawillah
sandstone rocks. Columnar jointing, plumose structures, horsetail fractures, kink joints
and exfoliation joints are commonly observed in the volcanic rocks. This study
indicates that the fracture spacing, orientation and thickness of the rock mass and
patterns of fractures are controlled by lithology and structural evolution of the study
area.