Quasi-distributed fiber optic monitoring of thermo-hydro behavior of frozen loess for frost heave prediction

<p>We developed a quasi-distributed fiber optic monitoring technology to investigate the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behaviors of frozen loess. A combined method was proposed to measure in-situ ice content, providing critical parameters for understanding THM coupled effects. To characterize the soil freezing-thawing process, we further carried out subsurface automated multiphysics monitoring at a site located on the Loess Plateau, China, during 2020/2021 winter by employing quasi-distributed fiber optic sensing arrays. The inner mechanism of frost heave was revealed via field monitoring data and correlation analysis, which directly promoted the development of a semiempirical frost heave prediction method. For this study area, the proposed method requiring only temperature data as inputs was validated using our field monitoring results.</p> <p>The data presented here are the monitoring data of in-situ temperature, moisture content,&nbsp; and soil displacement. The results of frost heave prediction&nbsp;based on the field monitoring data are shown in the files.</p>