Fibre Optic Sensing Based Slope Crest Tension Crack Monitoring System for Surface Mines

The stability of slopes in surface mines is of high concern due to the risk to both personnel and excavation plant. A variety of slope stability monitoring systems have been developed and implemented in the industry in order to predict slope failures before they occur and to minimise the damage to peopleand plant. This paper examines the technical challenges of the current slope tension crack monitoringsystems and demonstrates the feasibility of an innovative FBG-based crack sensing system. The results of preliminary experiments show that with the application of the mechanical displacement converter, the slope crack generation can be measured using FBG strain sensors.