Abstract
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.
Highlights
Rapid rockfall and debris flows in volcanic rocks and soils, which are widespread around the city of Naples, Italy, affect densely urbanized areas, with a potentially significant impact on the population
We explored the possibility of using optical fibers as soil strain sensors for the setting up of an effective monitoring system for both types of slope movements
Two fractured tuff blocks at the Coroglio cliff were instrumented and the results of the three-year-long monitoring activities show that the sensing fiber system is able to follow both the thermal dilations of the rock and the progressive deformation of the fracture
Summary
To reduce the risk of landslide, one of the main strategies is the use of early-warning systems (EWS) based on effective monitoring: the triggering causes, if clearly recognized, or their effects, such as slope displacement and acceleration, can be monitored. In some cases, such as when a landslide is so large that it cannot be stabilized, the adoption of EWS can be the only practical solution [4,5].
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