Hertzian contact tests were used to investigate the evolution of fracturedamage in the coating layer as functions of contact load and coating thickness by studying crack patterns in porcelain on glass-infiltrated alumina bilayer system conceived to simulate the crown structure of a tooth. Cone cracks initiated at the coating top surface without delamination at interface and crack propagation to substrate. Preferentially the cracks made multi-cracks at the coating top surface rather than proceeding to interface. The cracks were highly stabilized with wide ranges between the loads to initiate first cracking and to cause final failure im-plying damage-tolerant capability. Finite element modelling was used to evaluate the stress distribution. Maximum tensile stress were responsible for the cracking at the coating layer and had a profound influence on the crack pattern and fracture damage in the layered structure materials.