Fracture of optical fibers in connectors

The present paper focuses on the failure mechanisms of optical fibers in connectors subjected to tensile loads. Several mechanisms and the sequence of occurrence are explained in terms of the structural details of the connector and the fiber coating. A series of experiments and analyses were carried out to determine: (a) the stress transmitted to the stripped fiber (b) the failure mechanisms and sequence associated with fiber breaks and (c) the effect of environmental aging on the strength of the assembly. All the work was carried out with samples using materials and construction common to the industry. The results give guidance on design and process steps to minimize the probability of fiber failure under tensile load.