Does glass experience damage at a cumulative rate where slight damage 2 months ago can accumulate to damage/stress fractures or if I drop my phone does it depend on the direct and singular fall?

Question

I work as an smart phone repair tech, and was wondering, if I drop my phone 5x in a month do all the previous drops damage my phone to an unnoticeable level that eventually reaches a breaking point, or does only the acute fall dictate the damage (I know most phones have a robust glass, does this change the glasses historical tolerances?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Yes, virtually all materials experience fatigue damage; small growth of micro cracks whenever they’re loaded up. Brittle materials, like glass, tend to be better about this but it still happens.