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EXPECTED FIBRE AND CABLE LIFETIME

Optical fibre cables are designed and manufactured to ensure stable and consistent fibre
performances for a predicted operating lifetime of at least 30 years under the prevailing environmental
conditions (underground and/or aerial installation).
All the optical fibre cable elements such as loose buffer tubes, strength members, plastic sheaths and
dielectric or metallic protections are suitably designed to provide adequate means of fibre location,
identification and protection during cable manufacture, storage, installation and termination. The
structure of these elements and the materials used in their manufacture do not have any long term
detrimental effects on fibre performance during the service life of the cable; moreover the materials of
the cables are not hazardous to environment and personnel.

In order to ensure full reliability of the optical cables, the following aspects have been taken into
account and described in details below:
1 - Fibre reliability
2 - Appropriate cable design
3 Appropriate installation and working conditions

1- Fibre reliability

Each fibre is tested after the drawing process with a strain of at least 1%, according to the Fibre
Proof Test in IEC 60793-1-30. During this test the entire length of the optical fibre is subjected to a
constant strain with the purpose of ensuring that the fibre does not include flaws which could produce
fractures or breaks, when an instantaneous strain is applied during the life of the fibre.

Also a Tensile Strength Test is carried out on long fibre samples, according to IEC 60793-1-31 with
the purpose of ensuring that the mechanical strength of the fibres is consistent and high. Typical test

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results, in a Weibull distribution form, are given in Figure 1 (The Weibull distribution is one of the most
widely used tool to predict lifetime reliability).

A third parameter Stress corrosion susceptibility is measured according to IEC 60793-1-33; the
typical value of the (dynamic) susceptibility factor "n" is about 21 ; short fibre lengths (typically 300
mm) are subjected to increasing loads, with four different strain rates, up to the break.
On a logarithmic plot (see figure 2) the breaking load versus the strain rates will result in a straight
line, whose slope is 1/(n+1).

2- Cable design

In optical fibre cable design, it is particularly important to consider the protection of fibre from external
stresses under all conditions of use: manufacture, storage, installation and operation.

In loose type construction, fibres are protected from external stresses, either axial or lateral, being
loosely contained by a structure (plastic tube) with a high degree of mechanical strength.

The cables are designed, and also the manufacturing process is controlled, in order to assure a
longitudinal fibre strain less than 0.05% (zero in practice) in the long term, and generally limited to 1/3
of the proof test (i.e. 0.33%) in the short term (e.g. during installation).

Furthermore the minimum bend radius of the optical fibre, after cabling process, is normally limited to
50 mm. Under these conditions, according to the Power Law theory as stated in IEC 62048 TR Ed1,
the calculated lifetime is far greater than 30 years with an insignificant failure probability.

3- Installation and working conditions

Normal installation practices and equipment can be used for duct, direct buried or aerial installation,
providing that all the manufacturers recommendations about tensile load, crush, impact, bend,
temperature and other ambient conditions like presence of water, chemicals, animals (insects,
rodents, etc.) are fulfilled.

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FIGURE 1 - WEIBULL PLOT

Nm :

1673

21

m=

Xo[Gpa] =

5,258

Note: SMr Neon G652 Fiber 20 m samples lenght

0.99999

0,33677

0.90000
0.80000
0.70000
0.60000
0.50000
-0,66323

cumulative failure probability

0.40000
0.30000
0.20000

0.10000

0.05000

-1,66323

0.04000
0.03000
0.02000

0.01000

0.00500
0.00400

-2,66323

0.00300
0.00200

0.00100
0.00080
0.00055

-3,66323

0.00030

-4,66323

0.3

-0,52288

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0.4

-0,32288

0.5

0.6

-0,12288

0.7

1.0

0,07712

1.5

strength (GPa)

0,27712

2.0

2.5

0,47712

3.0

3.5

4.0

0,67712

5.0

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0.00005
6.0

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FIGURE 2 STRESS CORROSION SUSCEPTIBILITY FACTOR

(DYNAMIC CONDITIONS)

G652 FOS FOS natural fiber

n=231;
0,85

5.728 GPa

Log. Load [Gpa]

0,80

5.355 GPa
0,75

4.761 GPa
0,70

4.293 GPa

0,65
0,60
0,55
-0,50

0,00

0,50

Every Point Mean of 10 data

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1,00

1,50

2,00

2,50

Log. Speed [mm/min]

3,00
21/11/2007

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