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

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.