Assessment of soil-embedded POF sensor performance for geotechnical monitoring

Fiber optic sensing technologies have recently been used to measure geotechnical structures like slopes, tunnels and retaining walls due to their light weight, high precision, durability, wide measurement range, and long-distance data transmission. However, the interaction between the sensing fiber and soil mass affects optical fiber data dependability. Monitoring soil and rock deformation, especially sub-surface measurement is difficult in geotechnical engineering. This study examines soil-embedded plastic or polymer optical fiber (POF) sensor performance for geotechnical monitoring. The polymer optical fiber's capabilities were optimized by studying soils type, sensor cores, tapering length, and soil settings tor pressure sensing implementation. Despite promising results, polymer optical fibers for monitoring soil and rock displacement have limitations, and strain between implanted sensor fibers and soil is unclear. This research optimizes polymer optical fiber for geotechnical monitoring sensors in several conditions. The investigation used various soil types with difTering weights and settings, several fiber optic sensor samples with difTerent core widths, and tapered length. This study considers sensitivity and resolution of the tiber sensors after embedded in those variables. The results may quantity how different parameters affect sensor performance in its intended applications based on the sensitivity and the resolutions of the sensor.