A Quasi-Continuous Visual Monitoring Method for Dynamic Deformation of Rock Strata in Similar Material Models
Abstract
Similar material simulation is a primary experimental approach for studying strata movement and deformation. With increasing research depth, continuous monitoring of deformation in similar material models is urgently needed to obtain the corresponding relationships between underground mining and overburden and surface responses. Existing monitoring methods, such as the light-lens method, photogrammetry, and 3D laser scanning, mostly rely on periodic observations and easily miss dynamic deformation features. To address this, a quasi-continuous visual monitoring method for mining similar material models is proposed. A monocular camera is integrated with monitoring frequency determination, characteristic image extraction, and image super-resolution reconstruction to build a system that reconstructs the dynamic deformation process from sparse observations to a quasi-continuous sequence. First, based on the quasi-static dynamics of overburden movement and spectrum analysis, a theoretical formula relating mining speed, periodic breaking distance, and monitoring frequency is derived. Second, to handle image redundancy, a multi-level judgment method combining Wasserstein distribution shift, spatial clustering, and regional cooperative intensity is used to screen images based on displacement and deformation, selecting characteristic images. Finally, Real-ESRGAN super-resolution reconstruction is applied to enhance texture details and resolution, improving accuracy. Experiments show that displacement monitoring accuracy improves from 0.27 mm to 0.11 mm after reconstruction. In a 60-hour experiment, 3,786 images were captured, and 143 characteristic images were extracted, clearly recording the full process of deformation initiation, development, and cessation. This research provides a quasi-continuous monitoring method for recovering strata movement and deformation in similar material models and offers a new technical approach for studying strata movement laws.