Method and device for monitoring tide above tunnel based on muon detection technology

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and a device for monitoring tide above a tunnel based on a muon detection technology, and the method comprises the steps: detecting muons which penetrate through an overlying medium and a water body of the tunnel, and obtaining a trigger signal; associating the trigger signal with time to form an original total count of muons; screening the original total count of the muons to obtain an effective total count of the muons in a preset statistical time window; based on a pre-established tide level mapping model, inverting the total effective count of the muons or the muon flux of the total effective count of the muons into a tide level estimation value, or inverting the total effective count of the muons or the muon flux of the total effective count of the muons into the tide level estimation value, and calculating the tide level variation according to the tide level estimation value, the tide level mapping model represents a monotone mapping relation between the effective total count of the muon or the flux of the muon and the reference tide level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of muon detection, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for monitoring tides above tunnels based on muon detection technology. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of global urbanization and transportation infrastructure, underwater tunnels (such as riverbed, seabed, or lakebed tunnels) play a vital role in cross-regional transportation. Tidal level changes caused by rising and falling tides are a key parameter of the underwater tunnel operating environment, and their dynamic changes directly affect hydrological analysis, marine engineering design, and environmental monitoring. Accurate and real-time monitoring of tidal level changes, especially reflecting the dynamic process of rising and falling tides through non-contact methods, is of great significance for hydrological research and tunnel operation management.

[0003] Current tide level monitoring technologies mainly rely on equipment such as buoys, acoustic sensors, radar, and pressure gauges. These methods typically require direct contact with the water body and are susceptible to interference from waves, sediment, or biological deposits, leading to decreased accuracy in deep water or complex environments. For example, buoys and pressure gauges are significantly affected by water flow disturbances, making long-term stable operation difficult; while radar can achieve non-contact measurement, it is sensitive to severe weather and electromagnetic interference, and is mostly deployed on the water surface or in near-water areas, making it difficult to implement directly inside underwater tunnels. Furthermore, traditional methods are slow to respond to dynamic changes in tides, typically requiring several minutes to several hours to reflect periodic tidal level changes, which is insufficient to meet the needs of real-time monitoring.

[0004] In recent years, muons, as secondary particles generated by cosmic rays, have been applied to geological imaging and density monitoring due to their high penetrating power. Muon flux is affected by the density and thickness of the medium. When the density or thickness of the medium (such as water) increases, the probability of muon absorption increases, leading to a decrease in flux. Thus, changes in flux can indirectly reflect the dynamic changes of the medium. Currently, existing technologies have not utilized changes in muon flux to directly reflect tidal level changes above underwater tunnels during high and low tides, and there is a lack of integrated devices and methods to achieve high-precision, real-time dynamic characterization of tidal levels.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention proposes an innovative solution based on muon detection. Utilizing the experimentally verified negative correlation between muon flux and tidal level changes, the solution reflects tidal dynamics in real time through muon flux within the tunnel, providing efficient and non-contact technical support for underwater tunnel environmental monitoring and hydrological analysis. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for monitoring tides above tunnels based on muon detection technology, the method comprising:

[0007] The muons that penetrate the overlying medium and water of the tunnel are detected, and trigger signals are obtained.

[0008] The trigger signal is correlated with time to form the original total count of muons;

[0009] The original total count of muons is filtered to obtain the effective total count of muons within a preset statistical time window;

[0010] Based on a pre-established tide level mapping model, the effective total count of muons or the muon flux of the effective total count of muons is inverted into a tide level estimate, or the effective total count of muons or the muon flux of the effective total count of muons is inverted into a tide level estimate, and the tide level change is calculated based on the tide level estimate. The tide level mapping model represents the monotonic mapping relationship between the effective total count of muons or the muon flux and the reference tide level.

[0011] Optionally, multiple consecutive tide level estimates are processed to generate a tide level trend curve.

[0012] Optionally, when the total effective count of muons satisfies Poisson statistics, the uncertainty is calculated based on the standard deviation of the total effective count of muons and the local slope of the tide level mapping model, and the confidence level of the tide level estimate or the tide level change is judged based on the uncertainty.

[0013] Optionally, "filtering the original total count of muons to obtain the effective total count of muons within a preset statistical time window" includes:

[0014] If at least one of the internal temperature, internal humidity, and internal pressure exceeds a preset threshold, an alarm message is generated and the status flag is added to the original total count of muons in the corresponding statistical time window. The original total count of muons is then processed according to the status flag to obtain the effective total count of muons.

[0015] Optionally, the establishment of the tide level mapping model includes:

[0016] During the calibration phase, the effective total count of muons or the muon flux, as well as the corresponding reference tide level, are obtained for multiple statistical time windows within a continuous time period.

[0017] The sequence of the effective total muon count and the sequence of the reference tide level, or the sequence of the muon flux and the sequence of the reference tide level, are processed to establish a monotonic mapping function from the effective total muon count or the muon flux to the reference tide level, which serves as the tide level mapping model.

[0018] Optionally, when the tide level mapping model is implemented in the form of a lookup table, the lookup table stores a set of discrete reference tide levels and their corresponding muon fluxes.

[0019] For the current muon flux The lookup table satisfies two adjacent points and The current tide level estimate is obtained using linear interpolation. Let i be the reference tide level at point i. Let i be the expected muon flux at point i. This is the reference tide level value at point i+1. Given the expected muon flux at point i+1, we obtain the current tidal level estimate. Represented as: .

[0020] Optionally, when the tide level mapping model is expressed in the form of a continuous function, the monotonicity of the monotonic mapping function is utilized to apply a bisection method to the equation. The solution is then performed to obtain the estimated tide level.

[0021] Optionally, a sliding statistical window method is used to collect the effective total count of muons penetrating the tunnel overlying medium and water within a preset statistical time window, wherein the length of the statistical time window is defined as... The time interval between the output of the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is defined as the output interval δt, and δt < 1 / 2. Each time an output interval is reached, the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is calculated and output once based on the total effective count of muons or the muon flux within the latest statistical time window.

[0022] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a muon monitoring device for monitoring tides above a tunnel. The muon monitoring device includes a single muon detection module, or multiple muon detection modules stacked along the height direction, and a host computer. The muon detection module includes a housing and a scintillator array, an optical reflection shielding layer, a front-end signal processing board, a signal acquisition board, and a photomultiplier tube disposed within the housing. The scintillator array is disposed between the optical reflection shielding layer and the front-end signal processing board. When the muon monitoring device includes multiple muon detection modules, the front-end signal processing board of the upper muon detection module located in two adjacent layers and the optical reflection shielding layer of the lower muon detection module are disposed opposite to each other. The scintillator array includes multiple scintillator units arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The photomultiplier tube is disposed at the bottom of each scintillator unit. The photomultiplier tube is fixedly mounted on the front-end signal processing board. The front-end signal processing board is connected to the signal acquisition board. The signal acquisition board is configured to process the signal from the front-end signal processing board and transmit the data to the host computer after packaging it.

[0023] Optionally, the muon detection module is configured to detect muons penetrating the tunnel overlying medium and water body, obtain a trigger signal, and correlate the trigger signal with time to form an initial total muon count; the host computer is configured to filter the initial total muon count to obtain the effective total muon count within a preset statistical time window, and based on a pre-established tide level mapping model, invert the effective total muon count or the muon flux of the effective total muon count into a tide level estimate, or invert the effective total muon count or the muon flux of the effective total muon count into a tide level estimate and calculate the tide level change based on the tide level estimate, wherein the tide level mapping model characterizes the monotonic mapping relationship between the effective total muon count or the muon flux and the reference tide level.

[0024] Optionally, the scintillator unit is configured to interact with muons to generate an optical signal, the photomultiplier tube is configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal, the front-end signal processing board is configured to convert the electrical signal into a countable trigger signal, and the signal acquisition board is configured to correlate the trigger signal with time to form an initial total count of muons.

[0025] Optionally, the muon monitoring device further includes a power supply system and an environmental monitoring module disposed within the enclosure. The signal acquisition board includes interfaces that are respectively connected to the power supply system, the host computer, and the front-end signal processing board. The environmental monitoring module includes a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a pressure sensor, which are used to acquire the internal temperature, internal humidity, and internal pressure of the muon monitoring device in real time.

[0026] Optionally, the muon monitoring device includes a housing, which includes a first protective shell and a first upper cover. The first protective shell includes a first hollow chamber with an upward-facing opening to accommodate the muon detection module. The first protective shell has a three-layer composite structure and includes, from the outside to the inside, a structural protection layer, an environmental isolation layer, and an electromagnetic and optical shielding layer. The side of the first protective shell is also provided with an external debugging and display interface, a power interface, and an external environment acquisition port or an external environment sensor mounting position. The opening of the first protective shell is provided with a first upper cover, and the first upper cover is provided with a level.

[0027] Optionally, the housing includes a second protective outer shell and a second upper cover. The second protective outer shell includes a second hollow cavity with an upward opening. The second upper cover is disposed above the opening. The scintillator array, the optical reflection shielding layer, the photomultiplier tube, and the signal acquisition board are disposed in the second hollow cavity. The second protective outer shell is a three-layer composite structure and includes, from the outside to the inside, an electromagnetic shielding layer, a temperature management and mechanical support layer, and an optical and airtight sealing layer.

[0028] A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for monitoring tides above a tunnel using the muon monitoring device described in the second aspect. The muon monitoring device is installed at a predetermined position inside the tunnel below the water body, with the detection surface of the muon monitoring device pointing normally upwards towards the tunnel, so as to detect muons that penetrate the overlying medium and water body of the tunnel to obtain an estimated tide level or a change in tide level.

[0029] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0030] 1. The method utilizes the change in the equivalent thickness of the overlying water layer caused by tidal level variations to alter the muon penetration threshold, thereby resulting in observable changes in the muon count / flux reaching the device. The method includes aggregating muon counts within a preset statistical time window to generate a timestamped total effective muon count or the muon flux; performing data quality control and environmental parameter correction on the total effective muon count or the muon flux; establishing a "total effective muon count or the muon flux - tidal level" mapping model (lookup table or regression model) by combining baseline data and reference tidal level data; and during the operational phase, performing inversion / lookup calculation on the real-time total effective muon count or the muon flux based on the mapping model to obtain an estimated tidal level value; outputting the tidal level change or the estimated tidal level value and uncertainty; and simultaneously uploading the count data, environmental parameters, equipment status, and alarm information to a remote platform for real-time viewing and online parameter configuration at the office.

[0031] 2. The device does not require direct contact with water and can be deployed inside tunnels, avoiding the impact of siltation and biological attachment on measurements, making it suitable for long-term unattended operation. Based on the penetration characteristics of muons, it has a sensitive response to changes in the equivalent thickness of the overlying water layer, enabling continuous dynamic monitoring of tide levels at the minute / half-hour / hour level. It adopts a multi-layer protection and electromagnetic / optical shielding design for tunnel environments, combined with temperature, humidity, and pressure monitoring, alarms, and data quality indicators to improve operational reliability and data availability. It supports remote data upload, status diagnosis, and online parameter configuration, facilitating operation and maintenance and safety early warning. The modular structure facilitates installation and maintenance, and single-layer or multi-layer detection structures can be selected as needed, with expanded directional information processing capabilities. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the tidal monitoring method above the tunnel according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the tidal level monitoring in the cross-river tunnel according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the muon monitoring device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the housing structure of the muon monitoring device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the muon detection module, host computer, power supply system and environmental monitoring module of the muon monitoring device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the muon detection module in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the scintillator array, optical reflection shielding layer, and front-end signal processing board in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a graph showing the relationship between the equivalent transmittance at all angles and the transmittance in the vertical direction as a function of the thickness of the overlying medium in this invention.

[0040] Figure 9 This is an example diagram showing the results of muon flux and tidal level changes in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to better understand the purpose, features and advantages of the present invention. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are only for illustrating the essential spirit of the technical solution of the present invention.

[0042] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth for the purpose of illustrating various disclosed embodiments in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known apparatuses, components, and techniques associated with this application may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0043] Throughout this specification, references to "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" indicate that a particular feature, component, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, the appearance of "in an embodiment" or "an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, a particular feature, component, or characteristic may be combined in any manner in one or more embodiments.

[0044] In the following description, in order to clearly demonstrate the components and working method of the present invention, a number of directional terms will be used. However, terms such as "front", "back", "left", "right", "outer", "inner", "outward", "inward", "up", and "down" should be understood as convenient terms and not as limiting terms.

[0045] Furthermore, terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," and "sag" do not imply that a component must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that it can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," and does not mean that the component must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0046] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0047] Example 1

[0048] A method for monitoring tides above tunnels based on muon detection technology, referring to Figure 1 Methods for monitoring tides above tunnels include:

[0049] The muons that penetrate the overlying medium and water of the tunnel are detected, and trigger signals are obtained.

[0050] The trigger signal is correlated with time to form the original total count of muons;

[0051] The original total count of muons is filtered to obtain the effective total count of muons within a preset statistical time window;

[0052] Based on a pre-established tide level mapping model, the effective total count of muons or the muon flux of the effective total count of muons is inverted into a tide level estimate, or the effective total count of muons or the muon flux of the effective total count of muons is inverted into a tide level estimate, and the tide level change is calculated based on the tide level estimate. The tide level mapping model represents the monotonic mapping relationship between the effective total count of muons or the muon flux and the reference tide level.

[0053] It should be noted that the statistical time window is denoted as... The statistical time window can be half an hour or one hour, thus forming tidal level output intervals at the half-hour or hour level. The host computer outputs the total effective muon count N(t) within each statistical time window and records the corresponding timestamp. If it is necessary to normalize the count to muon flux, and the effective area of ​​the muon detection device is set to Aeff, and the overall detection efficiency to ε, then the muon flux Φ(t) is expressed as: .

[0054] In the implementation method aimed at monitoring tidal changes, since Aeff and ε remain stable after installation, and tidal inversion focuses on relative changes, Φ(t) can be directly used as an equivalent input for subsequent processing. It should be noted that the following description uses Φ(t) as an example to illustrate the tidal monitoring method. Those skilled in the art will understand that since the effective total muon count N(t) and muon flux Φ(t) can be obtained from... By performing equivalent substitution, it is easy to think of using the effective total count of muons N(t) for tide level monitoring. The method of using the effective total count of muons N(t) for tide level monitoring will not be elaborated on in the following text.

[0055] To establish the mapping relationship between tidal level Φ(t), the equivalent overburden above the muon detector is represented as the superposition of the overlying medium and water-related terms. The overlying medium can be the tunnel structure layer, the soil cover layer, the riverbed solid layer, etc., and the equivalent overburden of the tunnel structure layer, the soil cover layer, the riverbed solid layer, etc., which does not change with tidal level is denoted as X. fix This value can be calculated based on geological borehole data. Let the water density be... The water thickness (tidal level) is Then the total equivalent coverage X(t) is expressed as .

[0056] The rise in tide level leads to an increase in h(t), which in turn increases X(t), resulting in a decrease in the number of muons reaching the muon detector. Therefore, the muon flux Φ(t) within the statistical time window changes monotonically with h(t), thus exhibiting a reversible mapping relationship.

[0057] The tidal level change is obtained by the difference between the estimated tidal level and the reference value. A reference time is selected. Using the estimated tide level as a benchmark, the tide level change = reference value - reference time. The estimated tide level. Reference time. The time period can be the initial period after the device has been operating stably, or it can be a period aligned with the reference tide gauge station. If absolute tide level is required, the estimated tide level can be output directly, as it has been calibrated to be consistent with the reference tide gauge station. If only the tide level change needs to be output, the output tide level change will be used for trend monitoring and early warning.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, "correlating the trigger signal with time to form the original total count of muons" may include: converging the trigger signals from multiple channels and correlating or synchronizing them with time, and outputting the original total count of muons.

[0059] In one embodiment of the present invention, the establishment of the tide level mapping model includes: in the calibration stage, obtaining the total effective count of muons or the muon flux and the corresponding reference tide level for multiple statistical time windows within a continuous time period; processing the sequence of the total effective count of muons and the sequence of reference tide level, or the sequence of muon flux and the sequence of reference tide level, to establish a monotonic mapping function from the total effective count of muons or the muon flux to the reference tide level, as the tide level mapping model.

[0060] Specifically, in this embodiment, the mapping relationship is established through calibration to ensure that the tide level results output by the muon detection device are consistent with and comparable to the reference surface of existing tide level monitoring stations. For example, a model of tide level and muon flux is constructed to facilitate subsequent table lookups. During the calibration phase, a large amount of statistical time window data is selected within a continuous time period; the statistical time window can be one hour or half an hour. The host computer outputs the data within the corresponding time window. Simultaneously, it acquires reference tide levels corresponding to the location of the muon detector or those that represent tidal changes in the region. The reference tide level can be obtained from existing tide monitoring stations near the measuring points or from authoritative water level monitoring systems. Its time resolution matches the statistical time window, or time alignment is achieved through interpolation. The time-aligned data pairs are then fitted or interpolated to establish a mapping model from the effective total muon count or muon flux to the reference tide level. .

[0061] in, It is a monotonic mapping function. This can be achieved using a lookup table or a regression fitting method. When using a lookup table, a set of discrete tide level points is pre-selected. The expected muon flux is obtained from the calibration data. ,form A single survey is used to find the table and a continuous mapping is obtained through interpolation. When using regression fitting, model parameters are determined by calibration data and can be periodically updated during operation based on new data to compensate for long-term drift. Since the calibration model uses the reference tidal level... The reference surface is used as the output reference. Therefore, after calibration, the output tide level of this device is consistent with the reference tide level station's baseline, allowing for direct comparison with historical tide level data. If there is a spatial difference between the reference tide level station and the device's location, the mapping model absorbs the systematic bias caused by this difference during the fitting process, ensuring that the output result is statistically consistent with the tide level changes at the device's location.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, "screening the original total count of muons to obtain the effective total count of muons within a preset statistical time window" includes: if at least one of the internal temperature, internal humidity and internal pressure of the muon detection device exceeds a preset threshold, generating an alarm message and adding a status flag to the original total count of muons in the corresponding statistical time window, processing the original total count of muons according to the status flag to obtain the effective total count of muons.

[0063] Specifically, during the operation of the muon detection device, the total muon count is acquired for each statistical time window and validity processing is performed to obtain the valid total muon count. The host computer reads the output from the signal acquisition board to obtain... Simultaneously, the system reads the internal temperature, humidity, and pressure parameters output by the environmental monitoring module and generates data quality flags. If the internal temperature exceeds a preset temperature threshold, or the internal humidity exceeds a preset humidity threshold, or the temperature and humidity combination meets the condensation risk conditions, or the internal pressure fluctuates abnormally or the deviation from the reference pressure exceeds a preset pressure threshold, the host computer generates an alarm message and adds a status flag to the total count of muons in the corresponding statistical time window. The status flag indicates the quality level of the total count of muons in the statistical window. The remote control platform can remove, downgrade, or prompt for review of the total count of muons in the time window based on the status flag. The host computer can also enter a protection operation mode, which includes extending the statistical time window, reducing the data transmission frequency, shutting off power to unnecessary peripheral interfaces, or reinitializing signal processing parameters to improve operational stability in unattended scenarios. When a communication link failure causes data to fail to be transmitted in real time, the host computer locally caches the statistical window data and key status information and retransmits them in timestamp order after communication is restored to ensure the continuity and traceability of the tide level sequence.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present invention, an established mapping model is used to perform inversion or table lookup calculations to invert the effective total count of muons or the muon flux of the effective total count of muons into a tidal level estimate.

[0065] Specifically, for each statistical time window, the muon flux The estimated tide level is calculated by the host computer or remote control platform. , , It is a monotonic mapping function.

[0066] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the tide level mapping model is implemented in the form of a lookup table, the lookup table stores a set of discrete reference tide levels and their corresponding total effective count of muons or the muon flux.

[0067] For the current muon flux The lookup table satisfies two adjacent points and The current tide level estimate is obtained using linear interpolation. Let i be the reference tide level at point i. Let i be the expected muon flux at point i. This is the reference tide level value at point i+1. Given the expected muon flux at point i+1, we obtain the current tidal level estimate. Represented as: .

[0068] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the tide level mapping model is expressed in the form of a continuous function, the monotonicity of the monotonic mapping function is utilized to apply a bisection method to the equation. The solution is then performed to obtain the estimated tide level. This represents the muon flux at time t. This represents the muon flux at time t. The muon flux at time t is obtained by using a lookup table and linear interpolation. The corresponding tide level is the height of the reference tide level corresponding to the muon flux at time t measured by the muon monitoring device.

[0069] In one embodiment of the present invention, a sliding statistical window method is used to collect the effective total count of muons penetrating the tunnel overlying medium and water within a preset statistical time window, wherein the length of the statistical time window is defined as... The time interval between the output of the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is defined as the output interval δt, and δt < 1 / 2. Each time an output interval is reached, the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is calculated and output once based on the total effective count of muons or the muon flux within the latest statistical time window.

[0070] Specifically, the statistical time window and the output interval can be the same or different to strike a balance between time resolution and statistical accuracy. When the statistical time window is one hour and the output interval is half an hour, a sliding statistical window can be used to output the tide level results, updating the tide level results every half hour while retaining the counting stability provided by the one-hour statistics. The sliding statistical window is implemented by defining the statistical window corresponding to the current output time as [t-Δt, t), and updating it in a rolling manner according to a preset output interval, which can be half an hour or one hour.

[0071] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the total effective count of muons satisfies Poisson statistics, the uncertainty is calculated based on the standard deviation of the total effective count of muons and the local slope of the tide level mapping model, and the confidence level of the tide level estimate or the tide level change is judged based on the uncertainty.

[0072] Specifically, to improve the stability of tidal output, the inversion results can be smoothed and the uncertainty can be given. When the effective total count of muons satisfies Poisson statistics, the standard deviation of the effective total count of muons is... Uncertainty of tide level It can be obtained by error propagation from the local slope of the tide level mapping model, where, , The local slope of the tide level mapping model. It can be approximated by the difference between adjacent points in a lookup table. This represents the expected total number of muons.

[0073] In one embodiment of the present invention, multiple consecutive tide level estimates are processed to generate a tide level trend curve.

[0074] Specifically, the remote control platform can perform moving averages or exponential smoothing on multiple consecutive half-hour or hourly tide level estimates to form a tide level trend curve, and reduce uncertainty. It can be displayed along with the status flag, or only the uncertainty can be displayed. It is used to guide alarm confirmation and data credibility judgment.

[0075] In one embodiment of the present invention, the host computer will statistically analyze the muon flux within the time window. Tide level estimates tidal level change Uncertainty and status flags are uploaded to the remote control platform via a communication interface. The remote control platform is used for data storage, visualization, and tidal change analysis. It can also issue operating parameters to update statistical time window length, output interval, data upload cycle, trigger threshold / judgment threshold parameters, calibration parameters, alarm thresholds, and smoothing parameters online. The host computer verifies the parameters and makes them effective at the start of the next statistical time window, thereby enabling real-time monitoring and remote operation and maintenance at the office.

[0076] In one embodiment of the present invention, "arranging a muon detection device in a tunnel" may specifically include: determining the installation location of the muon detection device based on the tunnel mileage and structural layout, such as... Figure 2As shown, the preferred location is an area above the tunnel where the riverbed is relatively flat and the overlying medium varies little in the horizontal range. This allows the overlying boundary within the effective projection range of the muon detection device to approximate a plane or a gently curving surface, thereby reducing the impact of local terrain undulations or abrupt changes in the overlying structure on the effective total muon count. The muon detection device is connected to the tunnel surface or tunnel fixtures via a fixed base, and the installation position and attitude angle of the device are repeated through a positioning structure. The device attitude is calibrated using a bubble level on the top of the support box, ensuring that the normal of the detection surface points to a preset direction above the tunnel. After secondary tightening, the real-time counting status is read through the debugging display interface or remote control platform to confirm that the installation and debugging have been successful.

[0077] In one embodiment of the present invention, before “collecting the effective total count of muons in the overlying medium and water body of the tunnel within a preset statistical time window”, the process includes: initialization, self-check and baseline acquisition.

[0078] Specifically, after the muon detection device is powered on, the host computer enters the initialization and self-test process, completing power supply status detection, communication link detection between the signal acquisition board and the channel board, local storage unit availability detection, and communication link detection with the remote control platform. At the same time, it performs channel trigger status checks, threshold parameter reading and consistency checks, statistical time window parameter checks, and timestamp benchmark synchronization checks. After the self-test passes, it enters the baseline acquisition stage, outputting the effective total count N(t) of muons within the preset statistical time window Δt (half an hour or one hour), and simultaneously recording the status parameters such as internal temperature, internal humidity, and internal pressure of the device, as well as the alarm status. The baseline acquisition data is used to evaluate the counting stability and as a reference for subsequent calibration, drift identification, and quality control.

[0079] The following points need to be further explained in this embodiment:

[0080] This invention does not require knowledge of the specific direction of the muons; the change in the total muon flux can be equated to a change in vertical height. The algorithm principle is as follows:

[0081] The premise for using total muon flux for tidal level monitoring is that tidal level changes are mainly reflected in changes in the thickness of the water body above the device. Changes in water thickness alter the minimum energy threshold for muons to penetrate the overlying medium, thus changing the muon count reaching the device. Let the statistical time window be Δt, and the effective total count recorded by the device be N(t). Then, N(t) is statistically proportional to the muon flux reaching the device. Therefore, N(t) or the equivalent flux can be used as the observable for tidal level monitoring. It should be noted that the following explanation uses Φ(t) as an example to illustrate the tidal level monitoring method. Those skilled in the art will understand that since the effective total muon count N(t) and the muon flux Φ(t) can be obtained through... By performing equivalent substitution, it is easy to think of using the effective total count of muons N(t) for tide level monitoring. The method of using the effective total count of muons N(t) for tide level monitoring will not be elaborated on in the following text.

[0082] To illustrate that the total muon count within the detection range can characterize vertical tidal level changes, we first introduce the definitions of directional transmittance and full-angle equivalent transmittance. The differential flux model of sea-level muons can be represented by the Gaisser-Guan model, as follows: Let θ and E represent the zenith angle and muon energy, respectively. Assuming the minimum response energy of the detection device is E0, for a given overlying medium, the muon must satisfy the minimum penetration energy threshold E(θ, φ)min to reach the device's target. Then, the transmittance R(θ, φ) under this incident direction can be written in the form of an energy integral ratio, i.e. In this context, E(θ, φ)min increases with the increase of the equivalent thickness of the overcoat, therefore R(θ, φ) decreases with the increase of the equivalent thickness of the overcoat.

[0083] The device actually receives muons incident from all directions in the upper hemisphere, therefore the full-angle equivalent transmittance R is defined. int For the overall result after weighting the fixed angle, R int It can be represented as

[0084] ,

[0085] Meanwhile, the vertical transmittance R0 is defined as the transmittance R0 when θ=0 and φ=0, which can be expressed as:

[0086] ,

[0087] To illustrate the rationale for using total muon count or full-angle transmittance for tidal level monitoring, total muon count includes the original total muon count and the effective total muon count. The relationship between full-angle equivalent transmittance and vertical transmittance is theoretically calculated below, and the calculation results are illustrated. Assume the overlying medium is approximately homogeneous and its density is ρ = 2.65 g / cm³. 3 (The density value here is irrelevant to the result; muon flux attenuation is mainly related to density length, and the calculation conclusions are the same.) The preset minimum response energy of the detector is used. Under the given conditions, calculate the vertical transmittance R0 and the full-angle equivalent transmittance R0 respectively. int The relationship between the thickness of the overlying layer and the thickness of the overlying layer, such as Figure 8 As shown. The thickness of the overlying medium ranges from 0 m to 30 m, R0 and R... intThe trends of change are consistent and the values ​​are similar, with the relative difference between the two remaining within a preset range. This calculation result indicates that, under the assumption of an approximately uniform overlying medium and a relatively flat upper boundary, the full-angle transmittance can be approximately equivalent to a function of the vertical transmittance. Therefore, the equivalent transmittance obtained by counting muons incident at all angles can be used to invert the change in the equivalent overlying thickness in the vertical direction. In the scenario of tidal level monitoring in river-crossing tunnels, the change in overlying thickness is mainly caused by changes in water layer thickness; therefore, tidal level changes can be monitored by measuring the total muon count or the change in equivalent transmittance.

[0088] Based on the above theoretical analysis and calculation results, it can be seen that tidal level changes can be obtained from the total muon count or equivalent flux inversion. The muon detection device is installed at a predetermined location inside the river-crossing tunnel, with the detection surface normal pointing upwards towards the tunnel. A relatively flat area of ​​the riverbed above the tunnel is selected as the monitoring profile, so that the overlying boundary within the effective projection range of the detector can be approximated as a plane or a gently curving surface. Thus, tidal level changes mainly reflect changes in the vertical water layer thickness. According to the aforementioned theoretical analysis results, under the above assumptions, the trends of the full-angle equivalent transmittance and the vertical transmittance are consistent and the difference is within a preset range. Therefore, using a single-layer muon detection module to perform total count statistics on incident muons at all angles can serve as the observation for tidal level inversion. Double-layer or multi-layer muon detection module structures are used to perform time correlation and coincidence filtering of triggering events from different layers to suppress random noise triggering and improve the purity of effective events, or to enhance muon incident direction information and attitude deviation identification. However, tidal level inversion still uses the effective total count or equivalent flux within the statistical time window as the basic input. Therefore, a two- or multi-layer structure is not a necessary condition for tidal level change monitoring, but only an optional configuration to improve data quality and operational reliability.

[0089] Example 2

[0090] This embodiment provides a muon monitoring device for monitoring tides above a tunnel, in order to perform the method described in Embodiment 1.

[0091] Reference Figure 3-7The muon monitoring device 1 includes a single-layer muon detection module 10, or multiple layers of muon detection modules 10 stacked along the height direction, and a host computer 20. Each muon detection module 10 includes a housing 11 and a scintillator array 12, an optical reflection shielding layer 13, a front-end signal processing board 14, a signal acquisition board 15, and a photomultiplier tube disposed within the housing 11. The scintillator array 12 is disposed between the optical reflection shielding layer 13 and the front-end signal processing board 14. When the muon monitoring device 1 includes multiple layers of muon detection modules 10, the front-end signal processing board 14 of the upper layer of the muon detection module 10 located in adjacent layers and the upper layer of ... The optical reflection shielding layers 13 of the lower muon detection module 10 are arranged opposite to each other. The scintillator array 12 includes multiple scintillator units 121 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. A photomultiplier tube (not shown in the figure, but the positional relationship of the photomultiplier tubes can be understood through the photomultiplier tube mounting slot 141) is provided at the bottom of each scintillator unit 121. The photomultiplier tube is fixedly installed on the front-end signal processing board 14. The front-end signal processing board 14 is connected to the signal acquisition board 15. The signal acquisition board 15 is configured to process the signal of the front-end signal processing board 14 and transmit the data to the host computer 20 after packaging.

[0092] It should be noted that the muon monitoring device 1 can achieve the goal of tide level monitoring through one, two, three, or even more layers of muon detection modules 10, such as... Figure 5 The upper-middle layer muon detection module 10 and the lower-layer muon detection module 10 are shown. If it is a two-layer system, the upper and lower layers of muon detection modules 10 are connected via... Figure 4 The positioning support 39 is fixed to maintain a preset spacing. The shape of the positioning support 39 can be prism or cylinder to ensure the relative position of the grid-type scintillator array 12 of the upper and lower muon detection modules 10 is stable and to reduce the relative displacement caused by vibration. The upper and lower muon detection modules 10 are made of identical materials. In the embodiment used for tide level inversion, the muon detection module can use a single-layer scintillator structure to output the total muon count within a statistical time window to invert tide level changes.

[0093] In one embodiment of the present invention, the muon monitoring device 1 includes a housing 30, which includes a first protective shell 31 and a first upper cover 32. The first protective shell 31 includes a first hollow chamber 33 with an upward-facing opening for accommodating a muon detection module 10. The first protective shell 31 has a three-layer composite structure and includes, from the outside to the inside, a structural protective layer 311, an environmental isolation layer 312, and an electromagnetic and optical shielding layer 313. The electromagnetic and optical shielding layer 313 accommodates the muon detection module 10. The side of the first protective shell 31 is also provided with an external debugging and display interface 34, a power interface 35, and an external environment acquisition port or an external environment sensor mounting position. The first upper cover 32 is provided at the opening of the first protective shell 31, and the first upper cover 32 is provided with a level 37.

[0094] Optionally, considering the monitoring scenario is inside an underground tunnel, the first protective shell 31 is configured as a three-layer structure. The outer layer is a structural protective layer 311, used to connect with the tunnel fixing components and provide mechanical strength, possessing the ability to resist impact, collision, mud and sand intrusion, and external force damage. The middle layer is an environmental isolation layer 312, used to form a moisture-proof and salt spray-proof barrier and reduce the impact of external temperature changes on the internal electronic system. The inner layer is an electromagnetic and optical shielding layer 313, used to shield electromagnetic interference and achieve light blocking, and at the same time, used to position and fix the internal muon detection module 10 and complete the overall sealing. The above three layers are sealed by a circumferential sealing ring and a compression structure. Isolation gaskets or heat insulation layers can be set between the layers. A labyrinthine waterproof channel can be set between the outer and middle layers to reduce the probability of water vapor seeping in along the joints. At the same time, the entire monitoring system device is sealed by the first upper cover 32.

[0095] Optionally, an external debugging and display interface 34 and a power interface 35 are provided on the side of the first protective housing 31. The power interface 35 is used to connect to the external power supply line of the tunnel and supply power to the entire device. The debugging and display interface 34 can be used to connect to an external PC, facilitating on-site equipment installation, debugging, and operational testing. To facilitate attitude calibration and direction confirmation during the installation phase, a bubble level 37 is provided on the first upper cover 32 to assist in adjusting the device's attitude during installation or testing. The normal of the detection surface is aligned with the preset direction by using leveling shims / adjustable feet / base leveling bolts. Additionally, casters 38 are provided at the bottom of the device to facilitate movement.

[0096] Optionally, an external environment acquisition port or an external environment sensor mounting position may also be provided on the side of the first protective housing 31 for acquiring and recording external environment information during installation, commissioning or operation inspection. The external environment acquisition port is connected to the external environment through a waterproof and breathable membrane or a sealed connection structure to reduce the risk of water vapor intrusion.

[0097] In one embodiment of the present invention, the muon detection module 10 is a closed box structure. The shell includes a second protective outer shell 111 and a second upper plate cover 112. The second protective outer shell 111 includes a second hollow cavity 113 with an upward opening. The second upper plate 112 is disposed above the opening. The scintillator array 12, the optical reflection shielding layer 13, the photomultiplier tube and the signal acquisition board 15 are disposed in the second hollow cavity 113.

[0098] In one embodiment of the present invention, each row and column of the scintillator unit 121 is equidistantly arranged in mutually perpendicular X and Y directions to form a regular grid; optionally, the outer wall of the scintillator unit 121 is covered with a high reflectivity layer 122, and optionally, the scintillator unit 121 is made of an organic polymer material, wherein the high reflectivity layer 122 is a polytetrafluoroethylene tape or aluminum foil.

[0099] Optionally, an optical reflection shielding layer 13 is disposed above the scintillator array 12 to provide light-shielding sealing and optical reflection enhancement for the scintillator array 12. This reduces false triggering caused by stray light entering the detection area and improves the effective reflection and light collection efficiency of the scintillator light within the scintillator array 12, thereby enhancing counting stability and inter-unit response consistency. The optical reflection shielding layer 13 can employ a composite film structure, such as high-reflectivity aluminum foil material and black polyester film, black PVC sheet, black EVA foam, or equivalent light-shielding material. The high-reflectivity aluminum foil material serves as a high-reflectivity layer to improve the reflectivity of the scintillator. The black polyester film, black PVC sheet, black EVA foam, or equivalent light-shielding material serves as a light-shielding layer to achieve light blocking and suppress external light interference.

[0100] Optionally, the optical reflection shielding layer 13 can be fixed by bonding, pressing or cooperating with the housing 11 encapsulation frame of the muon detection module 10, and its edges can form a circumferential pressing and sealing structure to further reduce the risk of optical performance drift caused by water vapor intrusion in the humid environment of the tunnel.

[0101] Optionally, the scintillator unit 121 is made of a highly transparent, water-resistant, and corrosion-resistant organic polymer material, such as polystyrene-based material or an equivalent scintillator material. To improve light collection efficiency and enhance response consistency between units, a high-reflectivity layer 122 is provided on each of its sides. The high-reflectivity layer 122 can be one or more of a high-reflectivity aluminum foil, a reflective film, or a coated reflective layer. The high-reflectivity layer 122 is used to reduce optical crosstalk and improve the effective reflection of photons within the unit, thereby improving light collection efficiency and counting stability.

[0102] Optionally, the scintillator array 12 includes multiple scintillator units 121 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. Each scintillator unit 121 has a cubic structure, and the multiple scintillator units 121 are arranged in a matrix in the X and Y directions to form a multi-row, multi-column array layout. Each row and each column is equidistant in the X and Y directions, forming a regular grid. A photomultiplier tube, such as a SiPM (not shown in the figure), is correspondingly provided at the bottom of each scintillator unit 121. Multiple photomultiplier tubes are arranged in a matrix in the X and Y directions. An optical coupling medium is provided between the photomultiplier tubes and the scintillator unit 121. The optical coupling medium is preferably optical adhesive or silicone grease to improve optical coupling efficiency and avoid bubbles and delamination.

[0103] With this design, the scintillator array 12 is composed of multiple small scintillator units 121 arranged regularly along the X and Y directions. The two directions are perpendicular to each other in the array plane and form a planar coordinate system. By recording the row and column numbers or corresponding coordinates of the triggered scintillator units 121 in the array, the incident position coordinates of muons on this layer of the scintillator array are determined. The spatial resolution of the scintillator array 12 is determined by the size and spacing of the scintillator units 121, achieving centimeter-level position resolution. This is used to convert the energy deposited in the scintillator units 121 when muons penetrate into scintillator light signals, enabling effective response to muon events and spatial distribution sampling.

[0104] In one embodiment of the present invention, the front-end signal processing board 14 is provided with a photomultiplier tube mounting groove 141 for mounting a photomultiplier tube. Optionally, the photomultiplier tube is fixed in the photomultiplier tube mounting groove 141 by conductive adhesive or welding.

[0105] Optionally, the photomultiplier tube can be a silicon photomultiplier tube (SiPM), which is disposed on the bottom surface of the scintillator unit 121 or adjacent to the bottom surface, and optically coupled through an optical coupling medium. The optical coupling medium can be one or more of optical silicone grease, optical adhesive, or coupling pads. A front-end signal processing board 14 is disposed at the bottom of the scintillator array 12, and the photomultiplier tube and the front-end signal processing board 14 are installed in an integrated coupled manner. The front-end signal processing board 14 is provided with a photomultiplier tube mounting groove 141, and the SiPM is placed into the photomultiplier tube mounting groove 141 and reliably positioned by adhesive fixing to ensure the relative position stability of the SiPM and the scintillator array and improve vibration resistance reliability. The SiPM and the front-end signal processing board 14 are electrically connected through conductive pads or interconnect structures on the front-end signal processing board 14. The interconnect structure can be one or more of soldered interconnects, elastic press interconnects, or flexible interconnects to meet the reliability requirements for long-term operation in a tunnel environment.

[0106] In one embodiment of the invention, a scintillator unit 121 is configured to interact with muons to generate an optical signal. A photomultiplier tube is configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal. A front-end signal processing board 14 is configured to convert the electrical signal into a countable trigger signal. A signal acquisition board 15 is configured to correlate the trigger signal with time to form an initial total count of muons.

[0107] Optionally, each scintillator unit 121 interacts with muons to generate an optical signal, which can be converted into a photoelectric signal by a photomultiplier tube. The optical signal generated by the muon interaction is converted into an electrical signal by the photomultiplier tube, which manifests as a current pulse or equivalent charge pulse related to the number of incident photons. The electrical signal output by the photomultiplier tube enters the front-end signal processing board 14 for front-end processing, including signal amplification, filtering, pulse shaping, and threshold comparison, to convert the analog pulses output by the photomultiplier tube into countable digital trigger signals and output channel trigger information. The digital signals corresponding to each scintillator unit 121 are connected to the second interface 152 of the signal acquisition board 15 via a ribbon cable in the ribbon cable interface (bottom surface of the channel board) of the front-end signal processing board 14. The front-end signal processing board 14 is used to aggregate and manage multi-channel digital signals, and perform trigger aggregation, time alignment, and data packaging before transmitting them to the host computer integrated module.

[0108] In one embodiment of the present invention, the signal acquisition board 15 includes a first interface 151 connected to the power supply system 40, a third interface 153 connected to the host computer 20, and a second interface 152 connected to the front-end signal processing board 14.

[0109] Optionally, the signal acquisition board 151 further includes a first interface 151 connected to the power supply system 40 and a third interface 153 connected to the host computer 20. The third interface 153 is primarily connected to the digital signal acquisition and processing port in the host computer 20, uploading the muon digital signal, after the signal acquisition board 151 aggregates, synchronizes, and packages the multi-channel trigger signals, to the host computer 20. The host computer 20 can perform event parsing, valid event filtering, counting statistics, and time window aggregation based on the event frame, thereby obtaining the total valid muon count or muon throughput within a preset statistical time window. The third interface 153 can adopt a ribbon cable interface, board-to-board connector, shielded cable interface, or equivalent connection methods, and can use differential signals or serial bus methods to improve anti-interference capability and long-distance transmission reliability.

[0110] In one embodiment of the present invention, the host computer 20 is also used to realize the local control and remote communication functions of the device. The host computer 20 integrates a communication interface and a remote control module. The communication interface can be an Ethernet interface, a fiber optic interface, a 4G / 5G wireless communication interface, or a combination thereof, used to upload muon counting data, flux data, device status words, alarm information, and environmental monitoring data to a remote central control platform. The remote central control platform can be deployed in an office or maintenance center. Maintenance personnel can remotely access the host computer 20 through the remote central control platform to realize real-time viewing of muon flux data, historical data query, status alarm viewing, and distribution of operating parameters. The operating parameters include, but are not limited to: statistical time window length, data upload cycle, trigger threshold / judgment threshold parameters, calibration parameters, data quality flag strategy, protection operation mode start / stop conditions, and alarm thresholds, etc. In addition, the host computer 20 has data caching and breakpoint resume capabilities. When the communication link is abnormal, the host computer 20 caches the counting data and key status information output by the acquisition board in the local storage unit, and retransmits them to the remote control platform in the order of timestamps after the communication is restored, so as to ensure that the office can continuously obtain the muon flux sequence and use it for tide inversion or trend analysis.

[0111] Specifically, the host computer continuously collects internal temperature, humidity, and pressure parameters of the device and performs threshold judgments. When conditions such as temperature exceeding limits, humidity exceeding limits / condensation risk, or abnormal pressure fluctuations occur, alarm information is generated, and a quality status flag is added to the data of the corresponding statistical time window to indicate the reliability level of the data in that time window. When the alarm conditions are met, the host computer enters a protection operation mode, which improves the operational stability in unattended scenarios by extending the statistical time window, reducing the data transmission frequency, shutting down the power supply to unnecessary peripherals, or reinitializing signal processing parameters. When a communication link failure causes data to be unable to be transmitted in real time, the host computer locally caches the statistical window data and key status information, and retransmits them in timestamp order after communication is restored to ensure the continuity and traceability of the tide level sequence. The effective total count N(t) or normalized flux Φ(t) within the statistical time window is used as the tide level inversion observation. Φ(t) can be obtained by normalizing N(t) with the effective area A_eff of the detector and the comprehensive detection efficiency ε. Based on the monotonic mapping model between the muon observation and the reference tide level established during the calibration stage, N(t) or Φ(t) is converted into the tide level estimate ĥ(t), and the tide level change Δĥ(t) relative to the reference time t0 can be further output. At the same time, the uncertainty can be estimated according to the Poisson statistical characteristics of the count, and the output results are subjected to moving average or exponential smoothing to obtain a stable tide level trend curve. Finally, the tide level results, flux / count, status flags and alarm information are output and uploaded to the remote central control platform.

[0112] In one embodiment of the present invention, the remote control platform can also process multiple consecutive tide level estimates to generate tide level trend curves. For example, the remote control platform can also store and visualize the uploaded data to form muon flux curves statistically analyzed by minute, half-hour, or hour, and output corresponding tide level estimation results in conjunction with the tide level inversion model or calibration model.

[0113] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second protective shell 111 is a three-layer composite structure and includes, from the outside to the inside, an electromagnetic shielding layer 1111, a temperature management and mechanical support layer 1112, and an optical and airtight sealing layer 1113.

[0114] Optionally, the second protective shell 111 has a three-layer composite structure. The outer layer is an electromagnetic shielding layer 1111, made of one or more of copper foil, nickel-plated mesh, or conductive coating, used to shield against external high-frequency noise and electromagnetic interference generated by tunnel electrical equipment. The electromagnetic shielding layer 1111 is grounded to the shell via a grounding terminal and uses a single-point grounding method to reduce ground loop interference. The middle layer is a temperature management and mechanical support layer 1112, which contains one or more of a thermal conductive pad, heat pipe, or microchannel liquid cooling interface to achieve heat conduction and dissipation. A vibration damping structure is also provided to absorb tunnel vibrations; this structure can be a rubber damping seat or a spring support. The inner layer is an optical and airtight sealing layer 1113, used to shield and seal the optical coupling surface and optoelectronic devices to reduce external light interference and suppress moisture intrusion. The tunnel environment experiences long-term vibration and temperature changes. Vibration may cause changes in the coupling state and introduce count fluctuations, while temperature changes may cause electronic drift. Therefore, the vibration damping structure and temperature management structure are provided to improve count stability and enhance long-term operational reliability.

[0115] In one embodiment of the present invention, the muon monitoring device further includes an environmental monitoring module 50 disposed within the housing. The environmental monitoring module 50 includes a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a pressure sensor to acquire the internal temperature, internal humidity, and internal pressure of the muon monitoring device in real time.

[0116] Optionally, the environmental monitoring module 50 includes a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a pressure sensor. The temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and pressure sensor are disposed inside the first protective housing 31 and are used to acquire real-time internal temperature parameters, relative humidity parameters, and internal pressure parameters to characterize the internal working environment and sealing health status of the device, and for equipment health monitoring and alarm purposes. The temperature sensor can be a thermistor or an equivalent temperature measuring device; the humidity sensor can be a capacitive humidity sensor or an equivalent humidity measuring device; and the pressure sensor can be an absolute pressure sensor or an equivalent pressure measuring device. The pressure sensor is used to monitor pressure changes inside the protective housing to characterize changes in sealing status. Each sensor is fixedly installed through a waterproof sealing structure and electrically connected to the host computer integrated module. The sampling period is on the order of seconds or minutes. The sampled data is transmitted to the host computer 20 for status recording, remote monitoring, and alarm determination. The sampled data can also be displayed through a debugging display interface for on-site debugging and inspection.

[0117] Optionally, when the internal temperature of the device exceeds a preset temperature threshold, the host computer 20 generates a temperature alarm and uploads it to the remote control platform. Simultaneously, a status flag is added to the raw total count of muons for the corresponding statistical time window to indicate the quality level of the data within that time window. The host computer enters a protection mode, which includes extending the statistical time window, reducing the data upload frequency, disabling power to unnecessary peripheral interfaces, or reinitializing signal processing parameters to reduce the impact of temperature anomalies on system stability.

[0118] Optionally, when the internal humidity of the device exceeds a preset humidity threshold or the temperature and humidity combination meets the condensation risk conditions, the host computer 20 generates a humidity alarm message and uploads it to the remote central control platform. Simultaneously, a status flag is added to the original total count of muons for the corresponding statistical time window. In one optional embodiment, the device is equipped with an anti-condensation execution unit, which includes a heating element or a dehumidification unit. When the host computer 20 detects a condensation risk, it controls the anti-condensation execution unit to start, and shuts it off after the humidity returns to a safe range, thereby reducing the impact of the humid environment on the optical coupling surface and electronic components and improving long-term operational reliability.

[0119] Optionally, when abnormal pressure fluctuations occur inside the device or the deviation from the reference pressure exceeds a preset pressure threshold, the host computer 20 generates a sealing anomaly alarm and uploads it to the remote control platform. Simultaneously, a status flag is added to the original total count of muons for the corresponding statistical time window. The sealing anomaly alarm is used to indicate potential issues such as decreased casing sealing performance, loose connections, or casing damage, facilitating inspection and maintenance by operations and maintenance personnel. In one embodiment, the host computer records the internal pressure change trend over time and calculates the pressure change rate. When the pressure change rate continuously exceeds a threshold, it is determined that the sealing anomaly risk has increased, and the alarm level is raised.

[0120] In one embodiment of the present invention, the muon monitoring device 1 further includes a power supply system 40 disposed within the housing 30.

[0121] Optionally, the power supply system 40 includes a fixed base and a power module. The fixed base is made of high-strength material and is integrally formed with the protective shell or detachably connected. It is fixed to the tunnel floor or tunnel fixtures by bolts or an embedded structure to ensure the stability of the device and reduce attitude changes caused by vibration. The power module is used to connect to the tunnel power supply system or an external power source and provide stable power to the muon detection system and the data processing and remote display system. The power module includes a power input protection and filtering unit and a power conversion and distribution unit. The external power source is first connected to the power module and then uniformly distributed to the host computer, signal acquisition board, front-end signal processing board, and muon detection module. In another optional embodiment, the power module also includes a backup power unit to maintain short-term operation and ensure data integrity in the event of an external power failure.

[0122] In one embodiment of the present invention, the various structures of the muon monitoring device 1 employ a standardized mechanical interface design to facilitate modular assembly and rapid disassembly. The standardized mechanical interface includes a positioning structure and a fastening structure. The positioning structure ensures the relative positions of the upper and lower detection components and the protective shell are consistent, while the fastening structure provides reliable fixation and facilitates maintenance and disassembly. In one embodiment, the standardized mechanical interface further includes a standardized electrical interface and a sealed connection structure, enabling rapid plugging and unplugging of power supply and signal connections while meeting protection requirements.

[0123] Example 3

[0124] This embodiment provides a muon monitoring device for performing a tidal monitoring method above a tunnel. For the specific structure and function of the muon monitoring device, please refer to Embodiment 2. For the specific method and effect of the tidal monitoring method above a tunnel, please refer to Embodiment 1.

[0125] Reference Figures 1-7 The muon detection module 10 is configured to detect muons penetrating the tunnel overlying medium and water body, obtain trigger signals, and correlate the trigger signals with time to form an initial total muon count. The host computer 20 is configured to filter the initial total muon count to obtain the effective total muon count within a preset statistical time window. Based on a pre-established tide level mapping model, it inverts the effective total muon count or the muon flux of the effective total muon count into a tide level estimate, or inverts the effective total muon count or the muon flux of the effective total muon count into a tide level estimate and calculates the tide level change based on the tide level estimate. The tide level mapping model represents the monotonic mapping relationship between the effective total muon count or the muon flux and the reference tide level.

[0126] In one embodiment of the invention, a scintillator unit 121 is configured to interact with muons to generate an optical signal. A photomultiplier tube is configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal. A front-end signal processing board 14 is configured to convert the electrical signal into a countable trigger signal. A signal acquisition board 15 is configured to correlate the trigger signal with time to form an initial total count of muons.

[0127] Optionally, each scintillator unit 121 interacts with muons to generate an optical signal, which can be converted into a photoelectric signal by a photomultiplier tube. The optical signal generated by the muon interaction is converted into an electrical signal by the photomultiplier tube, which manifests as a current pulse or equivalent charge pulse related to the number of incident photons. The electrical signal output by the photomultiplier tube enters the front-end signal processing board 14 for front-end processing, including signal amplification, filtering, pulse shaping, and threshold comparison, to convert the analog pulses output by the photomultiplier tube into countable digital trigger signals and output channel trigger information. The digital signals corresponding to each scintillator unit 121 are connected to the second interface 152 of the signal acquisition board 15 via a ribbon cable in the ribbon cable interface (bottom surface of the channel board) of the front-end signal processing board 14. The front-end signal processing board 14 is used to aggregate and manage multi-channel digital signals, and perform trigger aggregation, time alignment, and data packaging before transmitting them to the host computer integrated module.

[0128] In one embodiment of the present invention, the host computer 20 is configured to perform the following: when the total effective count of muons satisfies Poisson statistics, calculate the uncertainty based on the standard deviation of the total effective count of muons and the local slope of the tide level mapping model, and at least make a confidence judgment on the tide level estimate or the tide level change based on the uncertainty.

[0129] In one embodiment of the present invention, "filtering the original total count of muons to obtain the effective total count of muons within a preset statistical time window" includes:

[0130] If at least one of the internal temperature, internal humidity, and internal pressure exceeds a preset threshold, an alarm message is generated and the status flag is added to the original total count of muons in the corresponding statistical time window. The original total count of muons is then processed according to the status flag to obtain the effective total count of muons.

[0131] In one embodiment of the present invention, the establishment of the tide level mapping model includes:

[0132] During the calibration phase, the effective total count of muons or the muon flux, as well as the corresponding reference tide level, are obtained for multiple statistical time windows within a continuous time period.

[0133] The sequence of the effective total muon count and the sequence of the reference tide level, or the sequence of the muon flux and the sequence of the reference tide level, are processed to establish a monotonic mapping function from the effective total muon count or the muon flux to the reference tide level, which serves as the tide level mapping model.

[0134] In one embodiment of the present invention, the host computer 20 is configured to execute: when the tide level mapping model is implemented in the form of a lookup table, the lookup table stores a set of discrete reference tide levels and their corresponding total effective count of muons or the muon flux.

[0135] For the current muon flux The lookup table satisfies two adjacent points and The current tide level estimate is obtained using linear interpolation. Let i be the reference tide level at point i. Let i be the expected muon flux at point i. This is the reference tide level value at point i+1. Given the expected muon flux at point i+1, we obtain the current tidal level estimate. Represented as: .

[0136] In one embodiment of the present invention, the host computer 20 is configured to execute: when the tide level mapping model is represented in the form of a continuous function, utilizing the monotonicity of the monotonic mapping function, a bisection method is used to process the equation. The solution is then performed to obtain the estimated tide level.

[0137] In one embodiment of the present invention, the host computer 20 is configured to perform: collecting the total effective count of muons penetrating the tunnel overlying medium and water within a preset statistical time window using a sliding statistical window method, wherein the length of the statistical time window is defined as... The time interval between the output of the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is defined as the output interval δt, and δt < 1 / 2. Each time an output interval is reached, the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is calculated and output once based on the total effective count of muons or the muon flux within the latest statistical time window.

[0138] Test case

[0139] This embodiment illustrates the feasibility and effectiveness of the device of the present invention in monitoring tide levels in the field environment of a river-crossing tunnel. It also demonstrates the correspondence between muon observations and tide level changes through measured data, thereby verifying the innovation and technical effect of the present invention in the long-term operation scenario of underground tunnels.

[0140] In this embodiment, the muon monitoring device described in Embodiment 2 is installed at a predetermined location inside a river-crossing tunnel, with the normal of the detection surface pointing upwards towards the tunnel. The device is then fixed, calibrated, and powered on. After entering the counting operation state, the device counts and statistically analyzes muon events within a preset statistical time window to obtain the total effective muon count or equivalent flux per hour, and simultaneously obtains tidal reference data under the same time reference. By aligning the hourly muon flux curve with the tidal curve within the continuous monitoring period, the on-site monitoring results shown in the figure are obtained. The detection surface can be a plane formed by the X and Y directions of the scintillator array, with the normal of the detection surface perpendicular to the Z direction of the aforementioned plane.

[0141] like Figure 9 As shown, within the continuous testing period, the hourly muon flux (or total hourly count) exhibits a stable correlation with tidal changes: during high tide, the thickness of the water layer above the tunnel increases, leading to a greater effective coverage of muons penetrating the overlying medium and a decrease in the number of muons reaching the muon monitoring device, resulting in a decrease in hourly muon flux; during low tide, the thickness of the overlying water layer decreases, the effective coverage decreases, and the number of muons reaching the detector increases, resulting in an increase in hourly muon flux. This trend is consistent with the rise and fall of the tidal curve in time and can be repeated within multiple tidal cycles, indicating that the device of this invention can stably acquire muon observations related to tidal changes in the complex environment of underground tunnels.

[0142] Furthermore, the repeatability of multiple tidal cycles in the figure demonstrates that the structural design, signal acquisition, and statistical window processing of the muon monitoring device of this invention can effectively suppress count fluctuations caused by electromagnetic interference, vibration, and temperature and humidity changes in the tunnel environment, resulting in a recognizable periodic response in the hourly muon flux curve driven by tidal changes. Therefore, this invention not only enables continuous monitoring of tidal changes but also provides stable and traceable input for subsequent tidal inversion models.

[0143] In one implementation, the tide level reference sequence in the figure and the hourly muon flux data within the corresponding time window can be used to calibrate and establish a monotonic mapping relationship. During the operation phase, the hourly muon flux is used as the observed output tide level estimate or tide level change, achieving non-contact tide level monitoring without the need to deploy traditional water level gauges in the water body or riverbed. Compared with traditional tide level monitoring methods, this invention utilizes muon detection devices deployed inside the tunnel to indirectly observe changes in the thickness of the overlying water layer. It has advantages such as concealed deployment location, minimal disturbance to the aquatic environment, suitability for cross-river tunnel scenarios where deployment or maintenance is inconvenient, and the ability to achieve remote data upload and long-term unattended operation, thus demonstrating the innovation and engineering application value of this invention.

[0144] Field data demonstrates that this invention uses the total muon count / equivalent flux within a statistical time window as the tidal level observation measure. Under conditions where the overlying boundary is approximately planar or gently curving, it can approximately reflect the change in equivalent vertical overlying volume using the total muon count across the entire angle, thereby achieving tidal level change monitoring. Furthermore, the field verification results show that this invention possesses repeatable, calibrable, and remotely operable tidal level monitoring capabilities in tunnel environments, meeting the needs of practical engineering applications.

[0145] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, it should be understood that after reading the above teachings, those skilled in the art can make various alterations or modifications to the present invention. These equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring tides above tunnels based on muon detection technology, characterized in that, The method for monitoring tides above the tunnel includes: The muons that penetrate the overlying medium and water of the tunnel are detected, and trigger signals are obtained. The trigger signal is correlated with time to form the original total count of muons; The original total count of muons is filtered to obtain the effective total count of muons within a preset statistical time window; Based on a pre-established tide level mapping model, the effective total count of muons or the muon flux of the effective total count of muons is inverted into a tide level estimate, or the effective total count of muons or the muon flux of the effective total count of muons is inverted into a tide level estimate, and the tide level change is calculated based on the tide level estimate. The tide level mapping model represents the monotonic mapping relationship between the effective total count of muons or the muon flux and the reference tide level.

2. The method for monitoring tides above a tunnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple consecutive tide level estimates are processed to generate a tide level trend curve.

3. The method for monitoring tides above a tunnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the total effective count of muons satisfies Poisson statistics, the uncertainty is calculated based on the standard deviation of the total effective count of muons and the local slope of the tide level mapping model, and the confidence level of the tide level estimate or the tide level change is judged based on the uncertainty.

4. The method for monitoring tides above a tunnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, "Filtering the original total count of muons to obtain the effective total count of muons within a preset statistical time window" includes: If at least one of the internal temperature, internal humidity, and internal pressure exceeds a preset threshold, an alarm message is generated and the status flag is added to the original total count of muons in the corresponding statistical time window. The original total count of muons is then processed according to the status flag to obtain the effective total count of muons.

5. The method for monitoring tides above a tunnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The establishment of the tide level mapping model includes: During the calibration phase, the effective total count of muons or the muon flux, as well as the corresponding reference tide level, are obtained for multiple statistical time windows within a continuous time period. The sequence of the effective total muon count and the sequence of the reference tide level, or the sequence of the muon flux and the sequence of the reference tide level, are processed to establish a monotonic mapping function from the effective total muon count or the muon flux to the reference tide level, which serves as the tide level mapping model.

6. The method for monitoring tides above a tunnel according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the tide level mapping model is implemented in the form of a lookup table, the lookup table stores a set of discrete reference tide levels and their corresponding muon fluxes. For the current muon flux The lookup table satisfies two adjacent points and The current tide level estimate is obtained using linear interpolation. Let i be the reference tide level at point i. Let i be the expected muon flux at point i. This is the reference tide level value at point i+1. Given the expected muon flux at point i+1, we obtain the current tidal level estimate. Represented as: .

7. The method for monitoring tides above a tunnel according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the tide level mapping model is expressed as a continuous function, the monotonicity of the monotonic mapping function is utilized, and the bisection method is used to refine the equation. The solution is performed to obtain the estimated tide level. This represents the muon flux at time t. This represents the muon flux at time t. The muon flux at time t is obtained by using a lookup table and linear interpolation. The corresponding tide level.

8. The method for monitoring tides above a tunnel according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sliding statistical window method is used to collect the effective total count of muons penetrating the tunnel overlying medium and water within a preset statistical time window, wherein the length of the statistical time window is defined as... The time interval between the output of the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is defined as the output interval δt, and δt < 1 / 2. Each time an output interval is reached, the estimated tide level or the change in tide level is calculated and output once based on the total effective count of muons or the muon flux within the latest statistical time window.

9. A muon monitoring device for monitoring tides above a tunnel, characterized in that, The muon monitoring device includes a single muon detection module, or multiple muon detection modules stacked along the height direction, and a host computer. The muon detection module includes a housing and a scintillator array, an optical reflection shielding layer, a front-end signal processing board, a signal acquisition board, and a photomultiplier tube disposed within the housing. The scintillator array is disposed between the optical reflection shielding layer and the front-end signal processing board. When the muon monitoring device includes multiple muon detection modules, the front-end signal processing board of the upper muon detection module located in two adjacent layers and the optical reflection shielding layer of the lower muon detection module are disposed opposite to each other. The scintillator array includes multiple scintillator units arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The photomultiplier tube is disposed at the bottom of each scintillator unit. The photomultiplier tube is fixedly mounted on the front-end signal processing board. The front-end signal processing board is connected to the signal acquisition board. The signal acquisition board is configured to process the signal from the front-end signal processing board and transmit the data packaged to the host computer. Optionally, the muon detection module is configured to detect muons penetrating the tunnel overlying medium and water body, obtain a trigger signal, and correlate the trigger signal with time to form an initial total muon count; the host computer is configured to filter the initial total muon count to obtain the effective total muon count within a preset statistical time window, and based on a pre-established tide level mapping model, invert the effective total muon count or the muon flux of the effective total muon count into a tide level estimate, or invert the effective total muon count or the muon flux of the effective total muon count into a tide level estimate, and calculate the tide level change based on the tide level estimate, wherein the tide level mapping model characterizes the monotonic mapping relationship between the effective total muon count or the muon flux and the reference tide level; Optionally, the scintillator unit is configured to interact with muons to generate an optical signal, the photomultiplier tube is configured to convert the optical signal into an electrical signal, the front-end signal processing board is configured to convert the electrical signal into a countable trigger signal, and the signal acquisition board is configured to correlate the trigger signal with time to form an original total count of muons. Optionally, the muon monitoring device further includes a power supply system and an environmental monitoring module disposed inside the enclosure. The signal acquisition board includes interfaces that are respectively connected to the power supply system, the host computer, and the front-end signal processing board. The environmental monitoring module includes a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a pressure sensor. The temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and pressure sensor are used to acquire the internal temperature, internal humidity, and internal pressure of the muon monitoring device in real time. Optionally, the muon monitoring device includes a housing, which includes a first protective shell and a first upper cover. The first protective shell includes a first hollow chamber with an upward-facing opening to accommodate the muon detection module. The first protective shell has a three-layer composite structure and includes, from the outside to the inside, a structural protection layer, an environmental isolation layer, and an electromagnetic and optical shielding layer. The side of the first protective shell is also provided with an external debugging and display interface, a power interface, and an external environment acquisition port or an external environment sensor mounting position. The opening of the first protective shell is provided with a first upper cover, and the first upper cover is provided with a level. Optionally, the housing includes a second protective outer shell and a second upper cover. The second protective outer shell includes a second hollow cavity with an upward opening. The second upper cover is disposed above the opening. The scintillator array, the optical reflection shielding layer, the photomultiplier tube, and the signal acquisition board are disposed in the second hollow cavity. The second protective outer shell is a three-layer composite structure and includes, from the outside to the inside, an electromagnetic shielding layer, a temperature management and mechanical support layer, and an optical and airtight sealing layer.

10. A method for monitoring tides above a tunnel using the muon monitoring device as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The muon monitoring device is installed at a predetermined location inside a tunnel beneath the water body, with the detection surface of the muon monitoring device pointing normally upwards towards the tunnel, in order to detect muons that penetrate the overlying medium and water body of the tunnel and obtain an estimated tide level or a change in tide level.

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