A Novel Quad-Core Double-Steel Optical Fiber Solution for Landslide Monitoring

This study presented the design and performance evaluation of a novel quad-core optical fiber cable with lateral double steel wire support for landslide detection. The cable offered a multipurpose solution for both landslide monitoring and traditional data transmission. We investigated the mechanical behavior, durability, sensitivity, and signal integrity of single- and double-steel optical fiber cables (OFCs) under various mechanical stresses. Simulations were conducted using SOLIDWORKS 2023 SP1, while experimental simulations of landslide forces were performed with a Universal Testing Machine (UTM)-Instron, and measurements were evaluated using an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR). The results showed that the quad-core double steel cable exhibited significantly lower localized and overall signal losses, improved mechanical strength, and greater sensitivity compared to the 1-core single steel cable. Notably, the quad-core design demonstrated a 76% lower load threshold, a 95% reduction in overall signal loss, a 20% reduction in loss at load points, and a 315% increase in attenuation. These advantages made the quad-core cable ideal for landslide detection, environmental monitoring, and subsurface pipeline movement, offering a more reliable solution for geohazard and infrastructure monitoring.