Mechanical Behavior of Optical Fibers

Abstract

The strength and static fatigue behavior of polymer coated, fused silica optical fibers is described. Experiments on glass quality and fiber processing conditions illustrate that the strength limiting flaws arise from several sources and occur with different frequencies. In turn, it is difficult to make strength extrapolations to long lengths (kilometers) based upon strengths measured on short gage lengths (meters). The probability of a failure in long lengths is analyzed from results on prooftesting of kilometer length fibers and compared to predictions from short length tests. The truncation of a strength distribution due to prooftesting is examined experimentally and the extent of dynamic fatigue that can occur during the prooftest is considered. Finally, the dynamic and static fatigue behavior of fibers with three different coatings are compared. The use of flaw growth parameters determined from dynamic fatigue experiments to predict static fatigue behavior is discussed.