California Glass Expert Performs a Failure Analysis on a Glass Bowl

A glass failure analysis was performed on a glass mixing bowl. An overview of the failed glass bowl is shown in the upper left photograph. This bowl failed as a result of thermal stresses. The crack originated at the bottom of the bowl and spread in one direction around the entire bottom. The thermal stresses were such that the crack never reached terminal velocity. In addition, a great portion of the fracture surface was featureless. The failure analysis revealed that this was a low stress crack driven by thermal stresses.