For fiber optic cable, the tensile strength of a cable represents the highest load or pulling force that can be placed upon any cable before any damage occurs to the fibers or their optical properties and characteristics. This is not the cable breaking strength, but a realistic. Understanding the strain transfer mechanism is required to interpret strain sensing results for fiber optic cables. Interpretation of fiber optic sensing. The cable follows the shape of a parable and the horizontal support forces can be calculated as R1x = R2x = q L2 / (8 h) (1) where R1x = R2x = horizontal support forces (lb, N) (equal to midspan lowest point tension in cable) q = unit load (weight) on the cable (lb/ft, N/m) L = cable span (ft, m) h. This study investigates the strain transfer mechanism for different types of fiber optic cables while embedded in concrete cubes, sustaining a boundary condition which features a displacement discontinuity. Strip force measurements give an indication of the fiber handler's ability to remove protective coating from the glass portion of the fiber without. Fiber optic cables are renowned for transmitting data at light speed, but their physical strength is often underestimated.