Proterial Cable America (PCA) engineers Henry Rice and Jacob Savoie aren’t just fantastic engineers, but skilled researchers as well. In a recent experiment, Rice and Savoie used a simulation to take a look at how temperature changes affect the strain on cable subunits and fibers.
Their experiment proved that changing the temperature affects how much the fibers of a cable expand and contrast which affects how much extra fiber needs to be in a wire. Rice and Savoie compiled their findings in their white paper “Temperature cycling simulation using finite element analysis”.
Click Here to Read the Full White Paper ‘Temperature Cycling Simulation Using Finite Element Analysis’
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation is used to predict how something will respond to forces such as heat, vibration or stress. A computer simulation, FEA breaks down the material or structure into finite elements and calculates how each element behaves under the conditions. This allows engineers to judge performance, identify weak areas, and optimize designs.
Excess Fiber Length (EFL)
Excess Fiber Length (EFL) refers to the extra length of optical fiber placed within a cable compared to the length of the cable’s protective jacket. This additional fiber allows the cable to handle stretching, bending, and temperature changes without putting excessive strain on the fiber, which helps to maintain signal integrity and prevent damage.
The Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE)
The Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE) measures how much a material expands or contracts in response to temperature changes. It describes the amount of expansion or shrinkage per degree of temperature change along a material’s length.
Temperature Cycling
Temperature cycling is a test to assess durability and performance of a material against varying temperatures. Simulating real-world conditions, the test evaluates how thermal expansion, and contraction affects the material over time.
Signal Attenuation
Signal attenuation is the gradual loss of signal strength as it travels through a medium, such as a fiber optic cable. Factors like distance, interference and temperature changes can lead to the signal weakening.
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