STRENGTH OF GLASSES

MSE 232 Lab 2

Introduction:
This MSE232 experiment will use four-point bending to measure the fracture stress for glass rods
with different surface conditions. The population of defect sizes on the surface of the glass
determines the stress required to produce brittle fracture.
Background:
The theoretical strength of glasses is commonly 500 to 1,000 times the experimentally measured
or design strength. This phenomenon arises from the strong influence of flaw populations in
glasses. This experiment is designed to acquaint you with the role of defects in determining the
mechanical responses of glasses.
The failure load of glass deteriorates when the glass is held under stress in atmospheric air. This
phenomenon has been known since observations of circa 1870 champagne bottlers who were
frustrated by bottles breaking in locked cellars! Delayed failure of glass under load in
atmospheric air makes the design and testing of glass engineering structures a difficult task
because many factors such as surface condition, load, humidity, and loading rate affect
"strength".
The separation of flaw population measurements from environmental effects is commonly
accomplished by conducting measurements at high loading rates or low temperatures. Either of
these two techniques may be exploited to reduce or avoid the influence of corrosive influences
from atmosphere upon the nucleation or growth of cracks. Note that this technique, which works
for scientific measurements, does NOT solve the problems of engineering design with glass!
Another complicating factor in glass strength is the problem of variability of flaw populations on
glass surfaces. Etching the glass surface, which significantly reduces the flaw population, can
control the flaw population. Unfortunately, subsequent handling of a sample that has been
etched to remove flaws creates new flaws in the sample, and the strength enhancement arising
from etching is thus lost. For purposes of laboratory measurements of glass samples, one
undertakes to create flaw populations that are identical so as to accomplish a glass strength
measurement under otherwise identical conditions. The creation of "identical" flaw populations
by abrasion with silicon carbide or other material appears to be a solution to controlling flaw
populations, but the practical fact is that no two samples may be considered to be equivalent.
Flaw populations in carefully prepared samples routinely produce variations in strength of 10%
of the glass strength. Flaw populations often vary in glasses received from the manufacturer such
that strength measurements may vary by factors of 5 from the average strength. These problems
require that one describe the strength of glasses using carefully constructed statistically qualified
form with complete descriptions of measurement conditions!
Experiment
This experiment consists of preparing four groups of four samples with each group subjected to

different surface preparation conditions. The samples are Pyrex nominal 6 mm diameter rod
which is a sodium-borosilicate glass customarily used in laboratory ware.
Sample Preparation
The samples are to be prepared by cutting specimens 4.75 inches long and abrading the center 2
inches of each sample. The samples are to be tested in a four-point bending apparatus, which
applies a constant surface stress between the central 2 inches of the sample; hence, the surface
treatment should be as uniform as possible in this region of the sample. Measure the diameter of
each sample using a micrometer PRIOR to surface treatments! The surface treatments of the
samples are to be:
A.
B.
C.
D.

As-received
Freshly abraded with 240 grit SiC metallographic paper
Freshly abraded with 600 grit SiC metallographic paper
Freshly etched 90 seconds with 48% HF1. Special care should be directed to avoiding
creation of defects in these samples after the etching!

Testing
Samples are to be tested using the mechanical test machine at a crosshead speed of 1.0 cm/min
using the four-point bending test fixture. This loading rate is quite fast and requires that the
automatic displacement cutoff device on the load frame be used to avoid crushing the
apparatus! Do not attempt to conduct this test without the automatic cutoff device set to limit
crosshead travel! The maximum load for each sample should be recorded in the spreadsheet
template provided. Note 2 that glass fragments will fly during the breaking process; hence,
shields must be employed to avoid eye injuries which will result from such fragments! Be
careful that glass fragments are carefully cleaned up and properly discarded so as to avoid
personal injury of your self, associates or other personnel! Remove and inspect fragments after
each test and note the general features of each fractured sample. In particular, note the
approximate number of fragments, the location of fracture initiation, if it can be determined, and
any other pertinent observations regarding the fractured sample.
Record the breaking load for each sample and compute the breaking stress in the sample using
the equation: =My/I, where M is the maximum bending moment, y is the distance from the
neutral axis to the extreme fiber where failure occurs (i.e., y = radius of rod), and I is the moment
of inertia of the section. For a circle, I = r4. The sample is loaded in four point bending where
there is a constant bending moment across the middle of the sample with M = P/2*x where P is
the load and x is the distance between the points of loading on the top and bottom of the sample.
Pre-assessment Task
Evaluate the 4 sample types and rank them in the order that you feel they will break (on average).
Rank them one through five, weakest (#1) to strongest (#5). On an index card (provided), write
1
HF is an insidious dangerous acid which may produce serious injury which is not immediately evident.
Please refer to the extensive warnings available from http://www.safety.vanderbilt.edu/resources/cls.htm HF etching
is to be conducted ONLY by laboratory personnel. TAs and students are NOT authorized to handle HF for etching
glass samples!
2

Note that ALL safety shields must be in place during all glass testing. The instructor
and students must remain in front of the testing machine behind both shields!

your name and your rankings; this exercise will be performed individually each person will turn
in one card. There are a total of 4 extra credit points for this lab, one point for each material that
is correct for that ranking. Note: the maximum points awarded will be four; two materials out of
place is only 3 points. These points will be added to your lab score.
Report
The individual report must contain the results from all sections of this class. Each laboratory
section shall test four groups of four samples or a total of 16 samples. The report should present
the results of your sections experiments on 16 samples AND the results for all lab sections
samples. Explain the test procedures employed and other observations. The observations should
include the variability of the strength within a particular test condition as well as the variability of
strength with sample treatment. Comment on how the consideration of the samples from all lab
sections affects your analysis of the results. Plot the results of testing each sample group in the
form of a histogram of number of samples versus failure stress. Discuss the general appearance
of samples after breaking (fragment size and number) and any correlations with strength.
Comment on factors, which might explain the results.

Data Handling
The data collected in each lab section is to be entered on the spread sheet template for the lab.
Each lab group will download the spreadsheet from the previous lab, add their data to the
spreadsheet. The combined effort of all lab sections will culminate in a larger data set of samples
for each surface condition. Lab reports are to include analysis of the combined results of all lab
sections so as to increase the statistical significance of the results obtained.
Assessment Tasks
1)
If possible, divide up into 4 groups each group will break one sample of each
material. Record the diameter of samples A through D for each sample and retain for
the calculations.
2)

Break the samples and, taking care not to get cut, evaluate the number of pieces of
each break and fragment size (qualitatively). Record the load required to break the
sample.

3)

After all lab sections have performed the test, a spreadsheet will be posted that will
include the data from all sections. Use all of this data to write your report.

4)

For each material type, make two histograms (in Excel) from all of the data provided:
a) breaking stress; b) number of fragments. Place these two histograms of each
sample on the same page, taking care to use the same scale for each group if possible.

5)

Also report the average breaking stress and the standard deviation. Comment on what
effect surface treatment had on the results observed. Also, briefly, comment on the
fragment size found (this will be done from your own section and group, since the
data for this will not be compiled). Comment on factors which may explain both the
results of the lab, and the differences between sections.

6)

Again, do not exceed four pages of text - excluding the histograms and other

appendices.

Samples & Equipment

Samples required include 4 sets of 4 Pyrex rods, 6 mm diameter minimum 13 cm long, 240 and
600 grit metallographic paper and HF etched samples to be prepared. Equipment required
includes safety glasses, mechanical test machine, and test fixture with safety guards, digital
vernier calipers, digital micrometer, and metric ruler.
SPECIAL REQUEST!
DISCARD ALL GLASS FRAGMENTS IN CONTAINER FURNISHED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
HOUSEKEEPING PERSONNEL MAY BE INJURED IF YOU DISCARD DANGEROUS
FRAGMENTS AS CONVENTIONAL TRASH!