The effect of excavation and soil recovery on soil temperature and ground infrared radiation containing a metal-bearing block

Abstract

The effect of excavation and soil recovery on the soil temperature field and surface infrared properties is a critical factor in shallow subsurface target detection, yet it has not been sufficiently addressed in existing research. This study employs a combined discrete element method and MIE scattering model to simulate the changes in soil surface morphology and physical properties after the shallow burial of metal blocks in sandy, loamy, and clay soils. By integrating soil heat and moisture transfer with an infrared radiation model, we simulate the resulting temperature field and infrared radiation characteristics of the surface after excavation. The results indicate that the granularity of sandy soils and the high cohesion of clay soils lead to relatively minor changes in surface morphology and physical parameters in comparison to loamy soils. Infrared imaging analysis reveals that buried materials are most easily detected in loamy and clayey soils, while detection is more challenging in sandy soils. Furthermore, the comparison of temperature differences between the surface center and surrounding environment demonstrates that the characteristics of buried objects in loamy and clay soils are most pronounced at 12:00 and 24:00, enhancing the feasibility of underground target detection at these times. The study also found that different excavation speeds had a minimal impact on soil parameters at the surface. Faster excavation speeds increase shear stresses at the subsurface interface, thereby enhancing the density of the subsurface layer. Additionally, stronger solar radiation was found to improve the detection of buried objects, reducing the difficulty of underground target identification. The methodology proposed in this paper provides a more realistic approach to underground target detection by accounting for the dynamic changes in soil properties during excavation and recovery processes.