OPTICAL CABLES

Optical fibers have small cross sectional areas. Without protection, optical fibers are fragile and can be broken. The optical cable structure protects optical fibers from environmental damage. Cable structure includes buffers, strength members, and jackets. Many factors influence the design of fiber optic cables. The cable design relates to the cable's intended application.

Properly designed optical cables perform the following functions:

Protect optical fibers from damage and breakage during installation and over the fiber's lifetime.

Maintain the physical integrity of the optical fiber by reducing the mechanical stresses placed on the fiber during installation and use. Static fatigue caused by tension, torsion, compression, and bending can reduce the lifetime of an optical fiber.

Navy applications require that fiber optic cables meet stringent design specifications. Fiber optic cables must be rugged to meet the optical, environmental, and mechanical performance requirements imposed by Navy systems. Critical system downtime caused by cable failure cannot be tolerated. However, in commercial applications, the requirements imposed on cable designs are not as stringent.

Each additional requirement imposed on the fiber optic cable design adds to its cost. Cost is always a main consideration of cable designers in commercial applications. Cost is also considered in Navy applications, but system reliability is the main goal.

Q.26 List three benefits that properly cabled optical fibers provide.

FIBER BUFFERS

Coatings and buffers protect the optical fiber from breakage and loss caused by microbends. During the fiber drawing process, the addition of a primary coating protects the bare glass from abrasions and other surface contaminants. For additional protection, manufacturers add a layer of buffer material. The buffer material provides additional mechanical protection for the fiber and helps preserve the fiber's inherent strength.

Manufacturers use a variety of techniques to buffer optical fibers.

The types of fiber buffers include tight-buffered, loose-tube, and gel-filled loose-tube. Figure 3-13 shows each type of fiber buffer. The choice of buffering techniques depends on the intended application.

In large fiber count commercial applications, manufacturers use the loose-tube buffers. In commercial building and Navy applications, manufacturers use tight buffers.

Figure 3-13. - Tight-buffered, loose-tube, and gel-filled loose-tube buffer techniques. 

Q.27 In addition to a primary coating, manufacturers add a layer of buffer material for what reasons?
Q.28 List the three techniques used by manufacturers to buffer optical fibers.