Optical cable for sensing, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an optical cable comprising a plurality of cable sensors helically wound around a support; and an outer jacket that is disposed on the plurality of cable sensors and surrounds the plurality of cable sensors; where each cable sensor comprises an optical fiber; where the optical fiber comprises an optical core upon which is disposed a cladding; a primary coating; a deformable material surrounding the optical fiber; and an outer tube surrounding the deformable material; where the optical fiber is of equal length to the outer tube; and where an allowable strain on the optical cable with zero stress on the optical fiber is determined by equations (1) and (2) below: ɛ = π 2 ⁡ ( D + d 2 ) 2 + p 2 p - π 2 ⁡ ( D - d 2 ) 2 + p 2 p = π 2 ⁢ dD p 2 = 10 ⁢ ⁢ dD p 2 ( 1 ) ɛ × 100 = Percent ⁢ ⁢ elongation ⁢ ⁢ or ⁢ ⁢ contraction ; ( 2 ) where d is the amount of optical fiber clearance for free movement within the loose tube, D is an average pitch diameter of the plurality of cable sensors and p is an average pitch length of a helical turn of the plurality of cable sensors wound around the central strength member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.