Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometer (BOTDR), a newly developed distributed fiber optic sensing technique, has been proved to be a very suitable and useful technique for monitoring and early warning of structural engineering by laboratory tests and practical projects due to its unique functions, such as distributing, long distance, anti-electromagnetic interference, waterproof, etc. However, its application to geotechnical engineering, especially soil-slope engineering, has been less carried out due to the complexity of the characteristics of geotechnical materials in the field. In this paper, BOTDR technique is applied to monitor the deformation of a laboratory soil-slope model in small scale in order to test the feasibility and early-warning characteristics of this technique with monitoring the deformation of soil slope. Different types of optical fibers are planted directly in the soil-slope model or bonded to geotextiles and geogrids that are planted in the fillings of the test model. Strain measurements of the model slope under various loads are obtained by BOTDR. By data processing and analysis, the abnormal strains can be obtained distributively, and the position of the abnormal strains can be located as well. The results show much valuable information for applications of BOTDR technique into soil-slope engineering. The test proves that the BOTDR technique can be used to ensure the stability of artificial soil slope and is useful for monitoring and early warning of the artificial soil-slope engineering.

Vertical deformation can be revealed by various techniques such as precise leveling, satellite imagery, and extensometry. Despite considerable effort, recording detailed subsurface deformation using traditional extensometers remains challenging when attempting to detect localized deformation. Here we introduce distributed fiber optic sensing based on Brillouin scattering as a geophysical exploration method for imaging distributed profiles of vertical deformation. By examining fiber optic cable‐soil interaction we found a threshold in confining pressure to achieve a strong cable‐soil coupling, thus validating data collected from a borehole‐embedded fiber optic cable deployed in Shengze, southern Yangtze Delta, China. Clear‐cut strain profiles acquired from November 2014 to December 2016 allowed us to pinpoint where compaction or rebound was actively occurring and examine strain responses at various locations along the entire cable length. We suggest that distributed fiber optic sensing can complement with extensometry and remote sensing techniques for improved monitoring of vertical deformation.

SummaryShield tunneling is a popular tunnel construction technique for its efficiency and speed. However, uncertainties associated with site soil conditions, past loading histories and analytical modeling, can result in performance issues. To monitor shield tunnels and ensure performance and safety, fiber optic sensing technique is proposed. Based on Brillouin optical frequency domain analysis, the technique can monitor the opening and closing of segmental joints in shield tunnels with high sensitivity. To determine tunnel lining segment displacement, different fixed-point spacings have been tested in the lab. The test results show that the difference in fixed-point distances had no impact on the test accuracy and the sensing cable with 0.9-mm polyurethane sheath coater has the best performance. For demonstration, the Brillouin optical frequency domain analysis-based monitoring technique is applied to the Suzhou Metro Line 1 tunnel for tunnel lining segment joint monitoring. The technique detected minor deformation of the segment joints in tunnels in operation and located leakages within the tunnel. The technique further identified that the minor deformations of the segment joints and track bed expansion were closely associated with temperature variations.

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To overcome the shortcomings of conventional slope monitoring methods, this paper presented an in-place inclinometer based on BOTDR (Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) which was used to obtain the long-term internal deformation in the slope. The installation process of optical fiber sensors and its measuring principle were introduced. The result of analysis indicated that the error in the measured displacement was proportional to the square of the inclinometer length and the precision of the BOTDR instrument, while it was inversely proportional to the diameter of the inclinometer tube. An actual field slope deformation monitoring case was also introduced. The results show that the BOTDR based inclinometer has a good consistency with the traditional inclinometer. It can effectively access the internal deformation of the slope and help to find the position of potential sliding surface accurately. This technology shows a high reliability and practicality in engineering application that will promote deeper research of slope in the future.

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Fiber‐optic sensing is emerging as a superior means for distributed strain sensing of the subsurface. The ability of an embedded fiber‐optic cable to capture accurate strain profiles depends on the degree of rigid mechanical coupling between the ground and the cable. However, a current challenge in this field is to determine the actual level of ground deformation from strain signatures sensed by the cable deployed in the subsurface; addressing this issue has been hampered by the lack of suitable theoretical methods. Here we propose a two‐step ground‐cable coupling evaluation procedure, whereby we develop analytical formulations to quantify the interaction and interface shear transfer of a ground‐borehole‐cable system. We constrain key model parameters using a data set acquired with a fiber optics‐instrumented borehole for monitoring groundwater‐related sediment compaction. Extensive parametric analyses reveal that increasing the backfill modulus and cable gauge length or decreasing the borehole radius and cable stiffness can improve the quality of strain transferred to the cable from the ground; the effect of ground properties is comparably insignificant. Further, we develop design charts and tables at designated transfer thresholds to facilitate the development and field deployment of fiber sensing elements. Taken together, the theoretical quantification of ground‐cable coupling should improve the state‐of‐the‐art performance of distributed fiber‐optic strain sensing for subsurface ground movements detection and monitoring.

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