Towards non-invasive sediment monitoring using muography: A pilot run at the Shanghai Outer Ring Tunnel
This study demonstrates the application of cosmic-ray muography as a non-invasive method for monitoring sediment accumulation and tidal influences in the Shanghai Outer Ring Tunnel, an immersed tube tunnel located beneath the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China. A portable, dual-layer plastic scintillator detector was deployed to conduct muon flux scans along the tunnel’s length and to continuously monitor muon flux, allowing for the study of tidal effects. Geant4 simulations validated the correlation between muon attenuation and overburden thickness, incorporating sediment, water, and concrete layers. Key findings include a strong anti-correlation between the measured muon flux and the water levels observed at a nearby tide gauge. The results align with geotechnical data and simulations, especially in the region of interest, confirming muography’s sensitivity to sediment dynamics. This work establishes muography as a robust tool for long-term, real-time monitoring of submerged infrastructure, offering significant advantages over conventional invasive techniques. The study underscores the potential for integrating muography into civil engineering practices to enhance safety and operational resilience in tidal environments.
Authors
- Houwang Wang
- Guanrong Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1381-7418)
- Shunxi Gao
- Siping Zeng
- Kim Siang Khaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9944-8301)
- Yusuke Takeuchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5043-2667)
- Q. J. Wang
- Yinghe Wang
- Yong Zeng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6678-271X)
- YAN Ning
- Yufu Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0648-2058)
- Shibin Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6157-5988)
- J. Ng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5178-208X)
- Guan Ming Wong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6731-6954)
- Min Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3122-6788)
- Li Lei
- Jinxin Lin
- Qing Zhan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4589-5461)
- Min Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0915-5290)
- Jiangtao Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3820-6325)
- Mengjie Wu
- Jie Tan
- X. Huang
- T. Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1511-3177)
- S. Y. Hoh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3233-5123)
- Yujin Shi
Institutions
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN)
- Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (CN)
- Shanghai Chengtou (China) (CN)
- Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (CN)
- Beijing Municipal Health Commission (CN)
- Nanjing Surveying and Mapping Research Institute (China) (CN)
- Seismological Bureau of Shanghai (CN)
- Shanghai Institute of Geological Survey (CN)
- Institute of Natural Science (KP)
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Applied Physics
- Published
- 2025-09-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0273686
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Geophysical Methods and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.15