GLASS FRACTURE PATTERNS

CHRISTIAN G. DOMINGO, RC, MCJ, PGDip-AC

INSTRUCTOR
CONCEPT OF GLASS
FRACTURE ANALYSIS
Glass bends in response to any force that is
exerted on anyone of its surfaces; when the limit
of its elasticity is reached, the glass fractures.
Frequently, fractured window glass will reveal
information that can be related to the force and
direction of an impact; such knowledge may be
useful for reconstructing events at a crime-scene
investigation.

The penetration of ordinary window glass by a

projectile, whether it is a bullet or a stone,
produces a familiar fracture pattern in which
cracks both radiate outward and encircle the hole,.
The radiating lines are appropriately known
as radial fractures, and the circular lines are
termed concentric fractures.
CONCEPT OF GLASS FRACTURE ANALYSYS

Concentric A crack in a glass that forms a rough

circle.

Radial Fracture:A crack in a glass that extends

outward like the spoke of a wheel from the point
at which the glass was struck.
Fracture Patterns in Glass

Determining the Order of Shots

Radial fractures will always travel along the path of least

resistance, and they will always end if they encounter an
existing fracture line. This fact allows an investigator to
determine the order of multiple impacts to a single pane
of glass. Let us analyze the figure below:
Determining the order of shots

Both impacts created radial and concentric fractures.

However, , the radial fractures from the right impact
were stopped by the pre-existing fractures caused by
the left impact.
Fracture Patterns in Glass

Determining the direction of Impact

Visible along the edge of broken glass are

stress lines. Stress lines appear from both
radial and concentric fractures. The
appearance of stress lines coming from
concentric fractures varies, but the stress
lines coming from radial fractures are quite
predictable and can be used to determine
the direction of impact. They are shaped
like arches with the perpendicular at the
surface opposite to the side where the
crack originated.
Determining the direction of Impact
Determining the direction of Impact

Radial Fracture’s Stress Marks

Fracture Patterns in Glass

Determining the direction of Impact

a high-velocity projectile always leaves a

hole wider at the exit side of the glass. The
size of the hole itself is not necessarily
indicative of the size of the projectile.

Entry side Exit side

Cone-shaped hole
Fracture Patterns in Glass

When glass breaks, most of the

glass falls inward. However, the
tiny shards produced in the
formation the concentric
fractures spray backwards
towards the person wielding the
weapon or tool. These tiny
bits of glass can get caught
in the hair and clothing of a
person near the point of
impact. .