Layer ball
The layer sphere is a graphic aid used in geosciences to represent the spatial position of surfaces and directions - for example of rock stratifications and fissures . It is the representation of a unit sphere on which the normal vector of the respective plane is entered. The projection onto the plane of the drawing is carried out by an equal-area azimuthal projection .
With the layer sphere, on the one hand, the inclination and direction of layers and crevices (in geology " strike " and " fall ") can be represented, on the other hand their interactions in the surface structure of rock bodies can be estimated.
In the last few decades the use of the layer sphere has established itself primarily for structural and stability analyzes in engineering geology and geotechnics . Axis distribution analyzes of the grain size in sediments are also carried out with it.
literature
- K.John and R. Deutsch: The application of the layer sphere in geotechnics. Institute for Rock Mechanics and Tunneling, Graz University of Technology, ( PDF; 495 kB ( Memento from November 1, 2013 in the Internet Archive ))
- B. Sander: Introduction to the structure of geological bodies , Chap. 10 D, axis distribution analysis ... and rotational position of the grains