Reliability of Optical Fibres and Components : Final Report of COST 246

1. Introduction and General Information about COST and the COST 246 Action.- 1.1. COST Framework.- 1.2. Technical Description of COST 246 Action.- 1.3. Objectives.- 1.4. Working Groups, Study Groups and Their Tasks.- 1.5. Methods of Working.- 1.6. Meetings and Workshops.- 1.7. Dissemination of the Results and Achievements.- 1.7.1. Publications and Reports.- 1.7.2. Web Site.- 1.7.3. Scientific and Technical Cooperation.- 1.7.4. Transfer of Results.- 1.8. Economic Dimension.- 2. Reliability of Optical Fibres and Components.- 2.1. Introduction, Reliability.- 2.1.1. Reliability Function, Survival Probability.- 2.1.2. Failure Function, Failure Probability.- 2.1.3. Probability Density Function (Failure Probability per Unit Time).- 2.1.4. Failure Rate.- 2.1.5. Proof Test.- 2.1.6. Lifetime.- 2.1.7. Statistical Methods and Parameters.- 2.1.8. Time to Failure and between Failures.- 2.1.9. Mean Time to Repair.- 2.1.10. Network Reliability.- 2.2. How to Study Reliability and Estimate Lifetime of New Components.- 2.2.1. Performance Tests.- 2.2.2. Reliability Tests.- 2.3. Standards for Optical Fibre, Component and Network Reliability.- 2.3.1. Background.- 2.3.2. Standards Groups and Reliability.- 2.4. References.- Annex 2.A Impact of Fibre Lifetime on Network Reliability.- 3. Optical Fibres (WG1.1).- 3.1. Contributors.- 3.2. Introduction.- 3.2.1. Mechanical Reliability Studies on Fibres.- 3.2.2. Fibre Strength Distribution, Fatigue, Ageing and Lifetimes.- 3.2.3. Studies on Optical Transmission Aspects.- 3.3. Objectives.- 3.4. Working Methods.- 3.5. Output of WG1.1.- 3.5.1. Summary.- 3.5.2. Fibre Splicing, Connecting and Handling (e.g. for Passive Components and Fibre Bragg Gratings).- 3.5.3. “Pop-in” Phenomena.- 3.5.4. Service Conditions for Optical Fibres in US and Europe.- 3.5.5. Co-ordination with COST 239 and 241.- 3.6. Presentations at WG1.1 Meetings.- 3.6.1. Ageing of Fibres.- 3.6.2. Polarisation Mode Dispersion during Ageing.- 3.6.3. Smallest Allowable Bend Diameter.- 3.6.4. Mechanical Properties of Weak Spots.- 3.6.5. Coating Characterisation and Ageing Behaviour.- 3.7. Achievements and Conclusions.- 3.8. Prospects and Future Work.- Annex 3.A Strength Degradation of Lightguide Fibres in Room Temperature Water.- Annex 3.B Influence of the Coating in Mechanical Behaviour of Aged Optical Fibres.- 4. Handleability of Aged Fibres (WG1.1 SG1).- 4.1. Contributors.- 4.2. Introduction.- 4.3. Objectives.- 4.4. Working Methods.- 4.5. Output of SG1.- 4.6. Achievements and Conclusions.- 4.7. References.- Annex 4.A Handleability of Aged Optical Fibres.- 5. Ageing Tests (WG1.1 SG2).- 5.1. Contributors.- 5.2. Introduction.- 5.3. Objectives.- 5.4. Working Methods.- 5.5. Output of SG2.- 5.5.1. Summary.- 5.5.2. Results of the 1st Round Robin.- 5.5.3. Results of the 2nd Round Robin.- 5.5.4. Discussion on the Possible Standard Method.- 5.6. Presentations at SG2 Meetings.- 5.6.1. Fibre Ageing.- 5.6.2. Ageing Environment.- 5.6.3. Testing the Aged Fibres.- 5.7. Achievements and Conclusions.- 5.8. References.- Annex 5.A Effect of Water Quality and Quantity on Strength Degradation of Fused Silica Fibre in Water Tests.- Annex 5.B High-Temperature Ageing of Modern Polymer-Coated Optical Fibers.- 6. Fusion Splices Reliability(WG1.1 SG3).- 6.1. Contributors.- 6.2. Introduction.- 6.3. Objectives.- 6.4. Working Methods.- 6.5 Output of SG3.- 6.5.1. Summary.- 6.5.2. Questionnaire.- 6.6. Presentations at SG3 Meetings.- 6.6.1. Effect of Mechanical Stripping and Arc-Fusion on the Strength and Ageing of a Spliced Re-coated Optical Fibre (Annex 6.B).- 6.6.2. High Yield Fusion Splicing in the Outside Plant: Using Fibre Metlpack to Monitor Electrode Condition.- 6.6.3. Active Optical Monitoring of Spliced Ribbons during Fibre Retention testing: Apparent and Real Splice Strength..- 6.6.4. Measurements on 8-Fibre Ribbons and Fusion Splices (Annex 6.A).- 6.6.5. Mechanical Strength and Fatigue of Optical Fibre Fusion Splices.- 6.7. Achievements and Conclusions.- 6.9. References.- Annex 6.A Measurements on 8 Fibres Ribbons and Fusion Splices.- Annex 6.B Effect of Mechanical Stripping and Arc-Fusion on the Strength and Ageing of a Spliced Recoated Optical Fiber.- 7. Lifetime Estimation and B-Value (WG1.1 SG4).- 7.1. Contributors.- 7.2. Introduction.- 7.3. Objectives.- 7.4. Working Methods.- 7.5. Output of SG4.- 7.5.1. Summary.- 7.5.2. Questionnaire Sent to SG4 Members after the Meeting in Copengahen (March 1997).- 7.5.3. Results of the First Meeting in Lannion (July 1997).- 7.5.4. The Questionnaire and the Answers from the Editors of Document No-17.- 7.5.5. The Second Answer Sent to IEC after the Meeting in Brussels.- 7.5.6. The Final Answer to IEC.- 7.5.7. Conclusions on Lifetime Estimation and B-Value.- 7.6. Presentations at SG4 Meetings.- 7.6.1. B-Value and Its Measurements.- 7.6.2. Weak Spots and Their Behaviour.- 7.7. Achievements and Conclusions.- 7.8. Prospects and Future Work.- 7.9. References.- Annex 7.A A Compression Proposal to IEC Power-Law Document (IEC SC86A/WG1 Document No-17).- Annex 7.B Mechanical Behavior and B-Value of an Abraded Optical Fiber.- Annex 7.C Modelling of Proof Test Level Flaws using Cube Corner Indents.- 8. Cables and Outside- Plant Components (WG1.2).- 8.1. Contributors.- 8.2. Introduction.- 8.3. Objectives.- 8.4. Working Methods.- 8.5. Output of WG1.2.- 8.5.1. Summary.- 8.5.2. Ducts Flooding with water.- 8.5.3. Freezing Water.- 8.5.4. Hydrogen in Cables.- 8.5.5. Reliability of Cable Materials.- 8.5.6. Recycled Materials for Ducts.- 8.5.7. Duct Cups.- 8.5.8. Fibre Stress.- 8.5.9. Guidance of Fibre Loops/Attachment Cables.- 8.5.10. Effect of Cable Installation Technique.- 8.5.11. Other Problems.- 8.5.12. Service Environment of Optical Fibres in Telecommunications Networks.- 8.6 Presentations at WG1.2 Meetings.- 8.6.1. Installation of Cables in Ducts.- 8.6.2. Reliability of jelly-Filled Poly-Propylene Slotted-Cores.- 8.6.3. Distributed Stresses in Optical Fibres Measured Using Local Brillouin Scattering Analysis.- 8.6.4. Flashovers Cause Primary Failures in Slotted Core Optical Fibre Cables Having Metallic Strength Member.- 8.6.5. Hydrogen Consideration for Optical Cables.- 8.6.6. Hydrogen Balance in Cables.- 8.6.7. Brillouin Scattering Stress Measurements.- 8.6.8. Summary of Cable problems with Freezing Water in Ducts.- 8.6.9. Summary of the Closure Problem with Aerial Cables.- 8.6.10. Reliability of Plastic Materials.- 8.6.11. Residual Fibre Stress After Installation.- 8.6.12. A copper-in-tube Access Network, Ease to Migration to Optical Fibre.- 8.6.13. Future Proof and Reliable Fibre Optic Outside Plant Products for the Access Network.- 8.7. Achievements and Conclusions.- 8.8. Prospects and Future Work.- 8.9. References.- Annex 8.A Results from Questionnaire, Outside Plant Configurations and Weakest Points.- Annex 8.B Results from Questionnaire, Service Environmental Conditions for Fibres and Optical Components in Cable Networks.- 9. Connecting and Branching Components (WG2).- 9.1. Contributors.- 9.2. Introduction.- 9.3. Objectives.- 9.4. Working Methods.- 9.5. Output of WG2.- 9.5.1. Summary.- 9.5.2. Service Environments for Passive Optical Components.- 9.5.3. Reliability Model and Calculating Procedures.- 9.5.4. Definition of the Reliability Test Program.- 9.5.5. Test Procedures and Results.- 9.6. Presentations at WG2 Meetings.- 9.6.1. Passive Optical Splitters.- 9.6.2. Plastic Optical Fibres and Optical Waveguides in Poly-Methyl-Meth-Acrylate (PMMA).- 9.6.3. Field Experiences with Passive Components in Different Countries.- 9.6.4. Quality and Reliability Tests on Fibre Optic Connectors.- 9.7. Achievements and Conclusions.- 9.8. Prospects and Future work.- 9.9. References.- 10. Fibre Bragg Grating Components (WG4).- 10.1. Contributors.- 10.2. Introduction.- 10.3. Objectives.- 10.4. Working Methods.- 10.5. Output of WG4.- 10.5.1. Summary.- 10.5.2. Results of FBG Questionnaire.- 10.5.3. FBG Characterisation.- 10.5.4. Environmental Conditions.- 10.5.5. Mechanical Resistance and FBG Lifetime.- 10.5.6. Results on High Temperature Measurements.- 10.6. Achievements and Conclusions.- 10.7. Prospects for the Bragg Gratings Activities.- 10.8. References.- App. 1 List of publications of COST 246.- App. 2 COST 246 Participant Index with contact addresses.- App. 3 MoU of COST 246.- App. 4 Information of COST Framework and Telecommunications.