Detection of Optical Fiber Segments with Mechanical Stress in Optical Cables Using Brillouin Reflectometers

Abstract

Investigation results of the strain in stressed optical fiber and optical cable in various processes of production using Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometers are described in this article. The investigation results are confirmed the advantage of a Brillouin reflectometry method for early diagnostics and detection of local segments with mechanical stress in optical fibers. The phase shift method is effectively used to find the total optical fiber elongation. It is recommended to include the Brillouin reflectometer in the control systems of the optical fiber characteristics to detect fiber sections with high mechanical stress and temperature changes. This will make it possible to identify the potentially harmful segments in the optical cable at various stages of the cable production and improve the technologies used in the production process.