Premature failures and damage often caused by poor handling and excessive mechanical strain arecommon for both coaxial and fiber optic cables. It can be helpful to understand just how these stressorscan damage the underlying materials used on these cables and how that, in turn, degrades electrical/optical performance. There are a myriad of methods for ruggedizing cable assemblies that buffer thecritical conductors, dielectric, and optical fibers from deforming, cracking, or unraveling. Any flaws ordiscontinuities in either one of these media will cause unwanted mismatches, reflections and, ultimately,signal loss. The effects of these flaws are only exacerbated in environments with heightened mechanicalstrain.
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