Optical fiber strain in epoxy-cured fiber optic connectors

Fiber optic connectors are passive optical components made up of various materials and used in harsh and benign environments. This paper presents the results of a project to evaluate the mechanical response of an optical fiber terminated in an optical fiber connector. This work is conducted via in-situ strain sensors based on optical fiber Bragg grating technology. These sensors assess the strain state of the optical fibers as a result of termination and subsequent environmental testing. Previous results and recent findings are reviewed and discussed. A design of experiments methodology is used to ascertain the significance of particular factors in the strain state of the fiber. Of primary interest are the connector´s optical loss and strain in the fiber. In addition, there is interest in the role of the epoxy in the mechanical behavior of the connector assembly and accurate modeling of the sensor response. Modeling the response of the Bragg grating sensor when exposed to nonuniform and transverse strains is addressed