June 15 - 19, 2026
Who Attends
Engineers, scientists and technicians interested in strength and fracture-mechanics testing, fracture issues related to process development or control, failure analysis (during production, testing, or service), and failure prevention. Class limit of 18.
Register now!
Course Description
This course covers the examination and interpretation of markings on fracture-exposed surfaces of glasses, polycrystalline ceramics, and single crystals, and the analysis of crack systems, i.e., fractography. Further, it covers using fractography in failure analysis, strength testing, and fracture-mechanics testing. The mechanisms by which fracture markings are produced will be explained, and the information provided by the markings (e.g., in locating and identifying fracture origins and in estimating stress at failure) will be emphasized. Observation and documentation techniques will be covered. The role of fracture analysis in failure prevention (i.e., ensuring mechanical reliability) is emphasized throughout the course. This is a hands-on course in which the students will view fractured glass and ceramic samples with stereographic optical microscopes and other tools. This year will be the 48th year the course has been offered. The course was started by Dr. Van Frechette in 1977.
The course is designed to meet the needs of people interested in glasses
or ceramics. Most of the examples that will be examined by the participants early in the course will be glass specimens, since fracture markings are most clearly seen in glass. Ceramic examples and specimens will be covered in depth in the later days of the course. In-depth coverage will be provided on equipment, documentation, formal fractographic standards, and quantitative fractography, with an emphasis on determining the stress in the part at fracture. Ample time is devoted to covering grinding and machining flaws in glasses and ceramics, the fractography of polycrystalline and single crystal ceramics, fracture toughness determination, and Weibull strength correlations with fractographic analysis. Links between fractography and failure prevention are included in the discussions, case studies, and examples.
Register now
Course Outline
Fundamentals of fractography, explanations of fracture markings, examination of specimens, equipment for observation and documentation, fracture origins in glasses and ceramics, quantitative fractography in testing (strength, fracture mechanics) and failure analysis, examples of fracture in polycrystalline ceramics, and using fractography in failure prevention. Attendees may bring one or two specimens for after-class inspection. The course instructors will be available after class on Days 1, 2 and 4 for inspections of specimens. Attendees should bring a simple hand calculator and a laser pointer.
Schedule Outline: Extensive hands-on examination of specimens is dispersed throughout the entire 4.5 days of the course.
- Days 1 and 2: Equipment and techniques, stress/strain basics, crack patterns (a first look), fracture markings (with hands-on examination of examples), fracture mechanics, stress corrosion, contact damage by particles, contact damage by grinding and machining, specimen reconstruction. (8:30 am-4:30 pm each day)
- Day 3: Thermal-shock origins in glass, glue chipping, common conditions of failure, fracture mirror constant (definition and measurement) (8:30 am-12:00 pm) Note: Class participants will have the opportunity to visit the Corning Museum of Glass. The course instructors will not be available the afternoon of Day 3 for inspection of specimens.
- Day 4: Further discussion of fracture mirrors, making and using replicas of fracture surfaces, fractographic standards, origins in ceramics, machining and grinding cracks in glasses and ceramics. (8:30 am-4:30 pm)
- Day 5: Single crystals, Weibull strength analysis and fractography, case studies (8:30 am-12:30 pm)
Instructors
Dr. James Varner is a Professor of Ceramic Engineering Emeritus at Alfred University. He received his PhD in Ceramics at Alfred University. His interest in fractography of glass and ceramics dates back to his senior thesis done under the supervision of Prof. Frechette. He continued this interest throughout his professional career. He has taught this course for over 25 years.
Dr. Jeffery J. Swab received a BS in Ceramic Science & Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and his MS and PhD in Material Science & Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and SUNY-Stony Brook, respectively. He has been conducting fracture analysis on advanced ceramics for almost four decades. He organized and led the first and largest international round robin exercise on fractography of advanced ceramics and was the leader responsible for developing and publishing the world’s first fractography standard practice for ceramics (ASTM C1322).
Course Fee
The course fee is $2,500.00. We do not issue refunds, however you may substitute someone else from your company in your place. Fee includes: Course notes, Fractography of Ceramics and Glasses practice guide, one dinner, and three lunches.
Register now!
June 9 - 13, 2025
Who Attends
Engineers, scientists and technicians interested in strength and fracture-mechanics testing, fracture issues related to process development or control, failure analysis (during production, testing, or service), and failure prevention. Class limit of 18.
Register now!
Course Description
This course covers the examination and interpretation of markings on fracture-exposed surfaces of glasses, polycrystalline ceramics, and single crystals, and the analysis of crack systems, i.e., fractography. Further, it covers using fractography in failure analysis, strength testing, and fracture-mechanics testing. The mechanisms by which fracture markings are produced will be explained, and the information provided by the markings (e.g., in locating and identifying fracture origins and in estimating stress at failure) will be emphasized. Observation and documentation techniques will be covered. The role of fracture analysis in failure prevention (i.e., ensuring mechanical reliability) is emphasized throughout the course. This is a hands-on course in which the students will view fractured glass and ceramic samples with stereographic optical microscopes and other tools. This year will be the 48th year the course has been offered. The course was started by Dr. Van Frechette in 1977.
The course is designed to meet the needs of people interested in glasses or ceramics. Most of the examples that will be examined by the participants early in the course will be glass specimens, since fracture markings are most clearly seen in glass. Ceramic examples and specimens will be covered in depth in the later days of the course. In-depth coverage will be provided on equipment, documentation, formal fractographic standards, and quantitative fractography, with an emphasis on determining the stress in the part at fracture. Ample time is devoted to covering grinding and machining flaws in glasses and ceramics, the fractography of polycrystalline and single crystal ceramics, fracture toughness determination, and Weibull strength correlations with fractographic analysis. Links between fractography and failure prevention are included in the discussions, case studies, and examples.
Register now
Course Outline
Fundamentals of fractography, explanations of fracture markings, examination of specimens, equipment for observation and documentation, fracture origins in glasses and ceramics, quantitative fractography in testing (strength, fracture mechanics) and failure analysis, examples of fracture in polycrystalline ceramics, and using fractography in failure prevention. Attendees may bring one or two specimens for after-class inspection. The course instructors will be available after class on Days 1, 2 and 4 for inspections of specimens. Attendees should bring a simple hand calculator and a laser pointer.
Schedule Outline: Extensive hands-on examination of specimens is dispersed throughout the entire 4.5 days of the course.
- Days 1 and 2: Equipment and techniques, stress/strain basics, crack patterns (a first look), fracture markings (with hands-on examination of examples), fracture mechanics, stress corrosion, contact damage by particles, contact damage by grinding and machining, specimen reconstruction. (8:30 am-4:30 pm each day)
- Day 3: Thermal-shock origins in glass, glue chipping, common conditions of failure, fracture mirror constant (definition and measurement) (8:30 am-12:00 pm) Note: Class participants will have the opportunity to visit the Corning Museum of Glass. The course instructors will not be available the afternoon of Day 3 for inspection of specimens.
- Day 4: Further discussion of fracture mirrors, making and using replicas of fracture surfaces, fractographic standards, origins in ceramics, machining and grinding cracks in glasses and ceramics. (8:30 am-4:30 pm)
- Day 5: Single crystals, Weibull strength analysis and fractography, case studies (8:30 am-12:30 pm)
Instructors
Dr. James Varner is a Professor of Ceramic Engineering Emeritus at Alfred University. He received his PhD in Ceramics at Alfred University. His interest in fractography of glass and ceramics dates back to his senior thesis done under the supervision of Prof. Frechette. He continued this interest throughout his professional career. He has taught this course for over 25 years.
Dr. Jeffery J. Swab received a BS in Ceramic Science & Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and his MS and PhD in Material Science & Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and SUNY-Stony Brook, respectively. He has been conducting fracture analysis on advanced ceramics for almost four decades. He organized and led the first and largest international round robin exercise on fractography of advanced ceramics and was the leader responsible for developing and publishing the world’s first fractography standard practice for ceramics (ASTM C1322).
Course Fee
The course fee is $2,500.00. We do not issue refunds, however you may substitute someone else from your company in your place. Fee includes: Course notes, Fractography of Ceramics and Glasses practice guide, one dinner, and three lunches.
Register now!
July 15 - 18, 2024
Who Attends
Engineers, scientists and technical professionals with a strong understanding of material processes and cursory experience in Python. Class limit of 14.
Register now!
Course Description
In this class we will cover simulation methods ranging from classical simulations such as molecular dynamics through quantum calculations, specifically density functional theory. Additionally, the class will include a day focused on an introduction to machine learning and a day where we review Python and computational calculus. Graduates of this class can expect to have a working knowledge of the most common computational techniques used in glass and ceramic industry and science.
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Course Outline
- Day 1: Review of Python and numerical calculus.
- Day 2: Introduction to molecular dynamics.
- Day 3: Introduction to density functional theory (DFT).
- Day 4: Introduction to machine learning. Students can bring their own databases and professor will be available during lab using machine learning to make predictions.
Instructors
- Dr. Collin Wilkinson, Assistant Professor of Glass Science, Alfred University
- Dr. Collin Wilkinson is an Assistant Professor of Glass Science at Alfred University. Collin earned a Bachelor's in Physics at Coe College followed by a Ph.D. in Material Science at the Pennsylvania State University. He served as director of research and development and CTO of small startups focusing on next-generation recycling technology through material informatics. Collin is the inventor or co-inventor of several new glass compositions for green applications ranging from reducing greenhouse gases to improved glasses for renewable energy applications. Collin joined the faculty at Alfred University in 2022 and his current research revolves around building computational tools for simulations of extreme conditions, understanding the fundamental physics of glassy materials, and engineering better solutions for sustainable glass technology. Collin is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed publications and 4 patents. He is additionally the chair of the undergraduate research committee at Alfred University where he has created a research program for undergraduates from around the world in glass and ceramics.
- Rebecca Welch, Visiting Scholar, Alfred University
- Rebecca Welch is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and a senior graduate student working with Dr. John Mauro at Penn State. She is also currently a Visiting Scholar at Alfred University working with Dr. Gabrielle Gaustad. Her research specializes in atomistic simulations as well as computational modeling of glass systems. She has a B.A. in Physics from Coe College and is set to graduate with a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering in 2024 from Penn State.
Course Fee
The course fee is $1,995.00. We do not issue refunds, however you may substitute someone else from your company in your place. Fee includes: Recordings of the lectures, access to the example codes, one dinner and three lunches.
Register now!
