# Spatial soil temperature measurement data around an underground power cable under controlled thermal loading

## TL;DR

This paper provides a detailed dataset of soil temperature changes around a simulated underground power cable under various heating conditions.

## Contribution

The study introduces a publicly available, large-scale experimental dataset for benchmarking and modeling soil thermal behavior.

## Key findings

- Temperature data was collected at multiple radial and vertical positions during steady-state and cyclic heating.
- The dataset includes symmetric and asymmetric heating–cooling conditions at 90 °C.
- The dataset supports benchmarking and data-driven analysis of soil thermal behavior.

## Abstract

•Large-scale experimental dataset of soil temperature measurements around a cable-representative heat source under controlled thermal loading.•Time-resolved temperature data recorded at multiple radial and vertical locations for steady-state and cyclic heating regimes.•Dataset includes long-duration steady-state heating and symmetric and asymmetric cyclic heating–cooling conditions.•Publicly available dataset suitable for benchmarking, model validation, and data-driven analysis of soil thermal behavior.

Large-scale experimental dataset of soil temperature measurements around a cable-representative heat source under controlled thermal loading.

Time-resolved temperature data recorded at multiple radial and vertical locations for steady-state and cyclic heating regimes.

Dataset includes long-duration steady-state heating and symmetric and asymmetric cyclic heating–cooling conditions.

Publicly available dataset suitable for benchmarking, model validation, and data-driven analysis of soil thermal behavior.

This article presents a large-scale experimental dataset describing the spatially and temporally resolved soil temperature field around a cable-representative heat source embedded in dry sand. A cylindrical electrical heater was used to represent an underground power cable conductor and operated under controlled steady-state and cyclic thermal loading conditions. The dataset includes long-duration steady-state heating at two target temperatures (70 °C and 90 °C), as well as symmetric and asymmetric cyclic heating–cooling regimes at 90 °C. Temperature time series were recorded using thermocouples installed at radial distances of 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm from the heat source, with sensors positioned above, beside, and below the heater to capture vertical temperature gradients. Additional measurements include heater surface temperature and ambient laboratory temperature. The present article consolidates the complete time-resolved dataset and associated metadata to support reuse, benchmarking, and further investigation of soil thermal behavior under controlled thermal loading conditions.