Abstract: A preliminary investigation was conducted to experimentally examine stress relaxation in optical fiber packs wound under tension. In the experiment, two high strength fibers, comprised of different buffer coating materials, were each wound under two different winding tension distribution scenarios to study the effects of both fiber winding tension and buffer coating properties on the mechanical stability in fiber packs during storage and under rapid deployment conditions. A strain sensing optical time domain reflectometer (SSOTDR) was used to measure the time-dependent strain changes in test fibers that were coiled on thermally compensated spools. The strain measurements obtained during the winding process and during temperature cycling are presented and discussed in this paper. Description of the SSOTDR, the test methodology, and an analytical fiber pack mechanics model is provided. Model predictions are used in concert with data discussion to supply theoretical versus experimental consideration. !6
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