Distributed Optical Fiber Sensor Applications in Geotechnical Monitoring

We report the experimental application of distributed optical fiber sensors, based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), to the monitoring of a small-scale granular slope reconstituted in an instrumented flume and subjected to artificial rainfall until failure, and to the monitoring of a volcanic rock slope. The experiments demonstrate the sensors' ability to reveal the sudden increase in soil strain that foreruns the failure in a debris flow phenomenon, as well as to monitor the fractures in the tuff rocks. This study offers an important perspective on the use of distributed optical fiber sensors in the setting up of early warning systems for landslides in both rock and unconsolidated materials.

Automated summary

This study reports the experimental application of distributed optical fiber sensors in monitoring small-scale granular and volcanic rock slopes, demonstrating their ability to reveal sudden soil strain increase and monitor fractures in rocks. The research offers valuable insights into using these sensors for early warning systems against landslides in various types of materials.