
Chapter 24
Mechanical Strength and
Reliability of Glass Fibers
Charles R. Kurkjian and M. John Matthewson
Photonic Components Reliability Group, Department of Materials Science and
Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
24.1 INTRODUCTION
Silica-based light-guide fibers have been produced and deployed with great
success in spite of their well-known ‘‘brittleness.’’ For instance, techniques have
been developed that allow long lengths (tens of kilometers) of such fibers to be
drawn and coated in-line. The preform and draw processes allow production
fiber that has a flaw-free surface with, essentially, the theoretical strength under
the conditions ...