Mechanical and physical characterization mapping of evaporitic rocks from Abu Dhabi city and its surroundings

Safe and sustainable engineering structure designs always require carefully and detailed mechanical and physical characterization of rocks. Abu Dhabi city, which is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been fast developing and industrializing region in the country and it is located on evaporitic rocks. Construction companies in this city often face some technical problems associated with evaporite bedrocks. Mechanical and physical characterization of rocks in either in-situ or laboratory is relatively expensive, takes significant time, efforts and adequate rock specimens must be tested to achieve reliable and representative values. In this study, extensive field and laboratory studies were carried out and 152 evaporitic rock blocks, which represent the study area, were collected from 27 locations. Large number test samples were prepared, tested and the mechanical and physical characterization maps, which are prepared by interpretation of the obtained data sets from 27 locations, for each considered parameters like Unconfined Compressive Strength (USC), Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), P Wave Velocity (Vp), Porosity (n), Water Content (wc) etc. Availability of such characterization maps for evaporitic rocks in the Abu Dhabi city vicinity will be practical, useful, economical and certainly provides vital information for the construction businesses, engineers, and decision makers.