High Speed Strength Testing Of Optical Fibre

Optical fibre models for mechanical reliability require that the initial strength and crack growth parameters be measured. High speed testing allows one to investigate and model common high-speed processing events during fibre processing such as proof testing, colouring and cabling. In this study stressing rates ranging from 7x10-6 GPa/s to 1.5 TPa/s were accomplished using a universal testing machine, belt slide and pneumatic piston. When plotted in typical dynamic fatigue fashion the data shows curvature at the faster stressing rates. The presence of region II type crack growth model is used to extract crack growth parameters that are used to make comparisons with crack velocity results on bulk glass.