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 GLASS FRACTURES
Glass fracture is the breakage of glass
due to the tensile strength that pulls the
surface of the glass apart and hence
exceeds the elastic limit. The strength
of the glass is in its surface. Glass has
less tensile strength than compressive
strength.
When a force pushes on one side of
glass, the elasticity of glass
permits it to bend in the direction
of force applied. Once the elastic
limit exceeds the glass begins to
break.
Bullet Fractures

 As a bullet passes through glass, it pushes a cone

shaped piece of glass out of the glass ahead of it.
 This makes the exit side of the hole larger than
the entrance side of the hole.
 Radiating fracture lines from a subsequent shot
will stop at the edge of the fracture lines already
present in the glass.
Path of a Bullet Passing through
Window Glass

 The entry hole will be round if the bullet was fired perpendicular
to the pane.
 If fired from an angle, glass pieces will be forced out to the
opposite side from the shot.
 The angles at which bullets enter window glass can help locate
the position of the shooter.
 Bits of the glass can fly backward (backscatter), possibly
creating trace evidence
Fracture Patterns in Broken Glass

 Glass can stretch slightly when hit.

And because it’s an amorphous solid, it will not
break into regular pieces with straight line
fractures. That means fracture patterns can
provide clues about the direction, rate, and
sequence of the impacts
Why Radial and Concentric Fractures
Form

 Impacted glass is compressed on the side it is hit.

 It will stretch on the opposite side of the glass, and
the tension there will radiate breaks in the glass
outward from the point of impact.
 Then fractures form in the shape of concentric
circles on the same side of the impact.
Glass Fractures Patterns
 Two parts:
RADIAL FRACTURE
 thepenetration of ordinary window glass
by a projectile, whether it is bullet or
stone, produce a fracture pattern which
radiates outwards like a spoke of wheel
from the point at which glass was stuck.
This radial glass fracture produced at the
opposite to the one where the force had
been applied. This fracture always
appears first on glass.
CONCENTRIC FRACTURE
 theconcentric glass fractures are the secondary
fracture and occur after radial fracture. If the
force continues even after the radial fracture, the
tensile stress develops on the side where the
force was applied. This leads to series of
concentric circles around the point of contact
known as concentric fracture. This fracture or
cracks are applied on the same side where the
force was applied. This fracture connect with the
adjacent radial fracture.
 BACKWARD FRAGMENTATION OF
GLASS
When a sheet of glass is broken, most of the
glass fragments travel in the direction of force
but few small  glass fragments or chips  are
also thrown backwards. The projection of
 glass particles  towards the person or object
breaking a window known as BACKWARD
FRAGMENTATION. This is actual mean by
which someone who is breaking a window
acquires glass particles on his or her clothing. 
ANGLE OF IMPACT ON THE GLASS
The angle at which projectile strikes the glass determine
the amount of chipping on the exit side.
 If a bullet strikes the glass at right angle to the surface,
there will be equally distribution of glass chipping on
the opposite side and leaving a symmetrical hole.
  If a bullet strikes the glass from the left side of the
surface, there will be chipping around the right side of
the exit surface and forming an elliptical hole.
 If  a bullet strikes the glass from right side of the
surface, everything will be reversed.
DIRECTION OF IMPACT
The direction of impact of glass can be determined
by the  direction of radial, concentric and cone
fractures.
 Theradial glass fracture produced to the opposite
side from where force applied.
 The
concentric glass fracture produced to the
same side from where the force applied.
 In
cone fracture,  the hole is usually wider at the
exit side as compared to the entry side and gives
the appearance of the cone.
Determining direction of force
 Radial edge of glass
• 3 R’s
Radial cracks have Right angles Direction of
on the Reverse side of applied force force

 Concentric edge of glass

Direction of
force
SEQUENCE OF HOLES IN GLASS
FRACTURE
 Where there are two or more the two holes in the 
glass plane, it may be possible to determine which
hole was made first. A radial glass fracture in glass
travels some distance depending upon the force of
impact, but if  it meets another fracture that has
been formed earlier, it will terminate at that point.
Consequently, if fractures from one bullet hole are
stopped by those made by second bullet hole, it
may be assumed that the hole that was made by
second bullet was made earlier.
VELOCITY AND DISTANCE OF FIRING
 It may be possible to determine the velocity of the
projectile from the nature of the hole. A high
velocity bullet will make an almost circular hole in
a glass pane without much cracking.  A projectile
fired from a long distance will have most of its
velocity spend before it reaches the pane of 
glass,  and it will break the pane in much the same
way as in the case of stone.   A bullet fired from
close range  will shatter the glass due to the
muzzle blast and leaves powder residue on the
surface.
THANKYOU!!!