By: Dr. Thomas Read
Tel: (707) 544-2374
Email Dr. Read
As "water hammer" (i.e. liquid impact) has the potential to cause glass bottle failure, Read Consulting LLC created two such failures to study the resulting fracture surface details.
Procedure: Two bottles were filled with warm water to within 3/4" of the top; they were then recapped. While holding the bottle upright, a rubber mallet was used to hit the top cap. After several blows, each bottle failed.
Results: Both failures initiated on the inside wall of the bottle where the base and the body intersect (heel). It is important to note that the bottle's inside wall is fire polished; thus, the glass strength should exceed 5,000 psi. This is confirmed by the very small fracture mirror at each origin. The small mirror indicates that the initiating stress was very high. In addition, the initial fracture is perpendicular to the axis of the bottle. This indicates that these failures are caused by downward forces created by the water. Thus, this is an impact failure; it is very different than a failure caused by high liquid pressure which results in cracks along the bottle axis.
Photographs: Below are photographs of the failed bottles:
Both bottles fractured at the heel (i.e. intersection of the sidewall and the base).
Fracture Origins
Bottle 'A' Fracture Origin
Bottle 'B' Fracture Origin
Dr. Thomas L. Read, CEO of Read Consulting received his PhD. from Stanford University in 1972. He has over 25 years of manufacturing experience in electronics, metallurgy, factory safety, failure analysis, glass fracture, glass failure and bottle failure. As a member of the electronics industry, Dr. Read has earned process patents and has an extensive background in manufacturing techniques. In parallel, he has spent over twenty five years as a consultant to attorneys and engineers in the areas of failure analysis, metallurgy, glass fracture, glass failure, bottle failure, factory safety, manufacturing problems, intellectual property and patent disputes.
©Copyright - All Rights Reserved
DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION BY AUTHOR.
9/21/2004· Failure Analysis
Contemporary Skin Barrier Wall Design And Water Leakage
For hundreds of years, building walls were constructed of stone or brick and were sometimes several feet thick. Such massive walls served well not only to sup port the floors and roof but also to keep out the weather
2/17/2023· Failure Analysis
Design Defect Failure Analysis of Water Shut Off Valve
By: Dr. Thomas Read
When this type of valve is open a rubber seal around the valve stem prevents leaking. In this case, the poly acetate stem deteriorated due to the presence of hot chlorinated water This allowed water to leak out. Over time the leak rate increased.
5/17/2011· Failure Analysis
Plumbing Failure Analysis: Stress Corrosion Cracking of Yellow Brass
By: Dr. Thomas Read
A plumbing failure analysis was performed to determine why a cold water supply line to a bathroom sink had failed after only one year of service.
