Effect of Static, Dynamic, Thermal and Humidity Loading on Fatigue life of Fiber Optic Cables

摘要

Health monitoring of aircraft structures with optical fiber sensors requires that the fibers remain functional for the lifetime of these structures as repairs are generally very costly and time consuming. Thus, the feasibility of using optical fibers in various aircraft structures depends heavily on the durability of these fibers under adverse loading conditions. It is well known that silica optical fibers are vulnerable to applied mechanical and thermal loads that make flaws grow rapidly and eventually lead to fiber failure. In this paper, we investigate theoretically and experimentally the combined effect of the mechanical, thermal, and moisture loading on the aging process of fiber optic cables in an attempt to assess the expected lifetime of these cables in a naval aviation environment. It is also important to note that there is a pressing need for such an investigation, as all the studies available in the literature address the individual rather than the combined effects of these parameters on the lifetime of the cables.