Structural mechanics of polymer coated optical glass fibres: review

The paper contains a brief review of the state-of-the-art in the stress-strain analysis (structural mechanics) of polymer coated optical glass fibers, with an emphasis on analytical ("mathematical") stress modeling. The author examines a number of practically important problems of the mechanical behavior and structural mechanics of polymer coated optical fibers, experiencing thermal, mechanical or dynamic loading. The following major topics are addressed: the mechanical behavior of polymer coated vs. metallized fibers, and the elastic stability and low temperature microbending of optical fibers.