TY - JOUR
T1 - Modelling principal stress orientations in the Arabian Plate using plate velocities
AU - Peña Clavijo, Santiago
AU - Dash, Anindita
AU - Baby, Guillaume
AU - Alafifi, Abdulkader M.
AU - Finkbeiner, Thomas
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s).
PY - 2024/8
Y1 - 2024/8
N2 - We model maximum principal horizontal stress orientations in the Arabian Plate using a 3D finite element approach in conjunction with plate velocities. To capture the impact of geometry and tectonics, the model considers an accurate plate boundary shape and associated deformations. Three primary geological units represent plate architecture: sedimentary cover, crust and upper mantle. The mesh resolution varies to capture important geometrical features. Subsequently, we calculate the stress field using the force balance equation. Displacement boundary conditions are evaluated as accumulative deformation. NE–SW maximum principal horizontal stress (SHmax) azimuths dominate in northeastern Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, whilst NW–SE to NNW–SSE define the Dead Sea area. The Red Sea Basin and Saudi Arabia’s interior is characterized by north–south SHmax azimuths. Iraq’s western area shows azimuths from NNW–SSE to NW– SE due to the collision at the Zagros Mountain Range, but changes to NE–SW in the east at the Zagros fold-andthrust belt. An extensive literature review reveals publicly available SHmax azimuth data which augment the sparse records compiled in the World Stress Map database. Our simulated SHmax azimuths are consistent with these data. The results further corroborate ongoing tectonic processes, deepen our understanding of in situ stress variation drivers and inform current elastic deformation mechanisms in the Arabian Plate.
AB - We model maximum principal horizontal stress orientations in the Arabian Plate using a 3D finite element approach in conjunction with plate velocities. To capture the impact of geometry and tectonics, the model considers an accurate plate boundary shape and associated deformations. Three primary geological units represent plate architecture: sedimentary cover, crust and upper mantle. The mesh resolution varies to capture important geometrical features. Subsequently, we calculate the stress field using the force balance equation. Displacement boundary conditions are evaluated as accumulative deformation. NE–SW maximum principal horizontal stress (SHmax) azimuths dominate in northeastern Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, whilst NW–SE to NNW–SSE define the Dead Sea area. The Red Sea Basin and Saudi Arabia’s interior is characterized by north–south SHmax azimuths. Iraq’s western area shows azimuths from NNW–SSE to NW– SE due to the collision at the Zagros Mountain Range, but changes to NE–SW in the east at the Zagros fold-andthrust belt. An extensive literature review reveals publicly available SHmax azimuth data which augment the sparse records compiled in the World Stress Map database. Our simulated SHmax azimuths are consistent with these data. The results further corroborate ongoing tectonic processes, deepen our understanding of in situ stress variation drivers and inform current elastic deformation mechanisms in the Arabian Plate.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85199991519&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1144/SP546-2022-327
DO - 10.1144/SP546-2022-327
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85199991519
SN - 0305-8719
VL - 546
SP - 193
EP - 214
JO - Geological Society Special Publication
JF - Geological Society Special Publication
IS - 1
ER -