Analysis of optical fiber splices by the nondestructive x-ray imaging technique

The x-ray imaging technique has been successfully applied to nondestructive evaluation of failed optical fiber splices. This technique can detect fiber fractures and defects inside mechanical and fusion splice samples. It is particularly effective in analyzing field failures since it requires no sample preparation and offers the advantage of preserving sample integrity. The x-ray imaging technique provides magnified real-time or film images of optical fiber inside splices with high resolution. In addition, the image processing capability provides image enhancement which significantly improves the clarity of the images. In examining samples of fusion and mechanical splices, we identified fiber fracture and separation of fiber ends as the most common failure mechanisms of splices. Fiber fracture was the result of fatigue failure when the stripped fiber section was subjected to severe abrasion damage and excessive stress. Subsequent fractographic analysis of fractured fiber ends supported the finding from x-ray imaging. Therefore, the x-ray imaging technique has proven to be a powerful tool for analyzing failed splice samples and it is a valuable addition to conventional analytical techniques.