Optical fiber mechanical bend stress test system with optical time-domain reflectometer

A test system comprising:

• a user device comprising:
• a communication interface;
• one or more memories that store instructions;
• and
• one or more processors to execute the instructions to:
• receive a selection of parameters directed to conducting a test of an optical fiber under test, wherein the optical fiber under test has a tight bend and the optical fiber under test includes one of a bend insensitive fiber or an ultra-bend insensitive fiber;
• cause, via the communication interface, other test components of the test system to conduct the test based on the parameters, the other test components comprising:
• an optical signal source capable of transmitting an optical signal, having a wavelength between an O-band through a U-band, through the optical fiber under test;
• polarization controllers capable of setting a state of polarization to an optical signal transmitted by the optical signal source;
• optical splitters;
• an optical receiver comprising a power meter that is optically connected, upstream from, the optical fiber under test;
• an optical time-domain reflectometer capable of detecting a location of the tight bend in the optical fiber under test;
• and
• a storage device capable of storing historical data, wherein the historical data includes data that maps degrees of interference values to at least one of bend radii values, lifetime values, or failure rates of optical fibers;
• collect, via the communication interface, test data during the test from the optical receiver;
• calculate degrees of interference of a reflected optical signal;
• correlate the degrees of interference values of the reflected optical signal to at least one of a bend radius value, a lifetime value, or a failure rate value based on the historical data;
• and
• output a test result that includes the at least one of the bend radius value, the lifetime value, or the failure rate value.

A method comprising:

• storing historical data that includes interference values mapped to at least one of bend radii values, lifetime values, or failure rate values pertaining to at least one of bend insensitive fibers or ultra-bend insensitive fibers;
• receiving test parameters that include optical fiber data that identifies an optical fiber under test, wherein the optical fiber under test includes a tight bend;
• transmitting an optical signal, via a test system, toward the optical fiber under test, wherein the optical fiber under test is a bend insensitive fiber or an ultra-bend insensitive fiber;
• setting a polarization state of the optical signal before the optical signal propagates through the optical fiber under test;
• setting a polarization state of a reflected optical signal that has propagated through the optical fiber under test in a manner that causes one or more degrees of interference;
• measuring instances of power of the reflected optical signal;
• and
• outputting a result that includes at least one of a bend radius value, a lifetime value, or a failure rate that applies to the optical fiber under test based on the measured instances of power and the historical data.