{"id":16696,"date":"2026-09-02T15:39:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T13:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.servosis.com\/?p=16696"},"modified":"2026-09-02T15:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T13:39:08","slug":"destructive-tests-of-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.servosis.com\/en\/ensayos-destructivos-de-materiales\/","title":{"rendered":"Destructive tests of materials: types and regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In this article we explain in simple terms what destructive testing is, what the most common types are, what regulations govern each one, and how to know which machine you need, whether for testing a material, a manufactured part, or a complete assembly.<\/span>

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What are destructive material testing methods?<\/b><\/h2>

A destructive test consists of testing a sample to the limit: it is stretched, compressed, bent, or subjected to repeated stresses until it breaks or permanently deforms. It is called that precisely because the sample does not survive the test.<\/span><\/p>

And here it is worth clarifying something important: the material is not always tested in its raw state \u2014 what in the sector is called a prototype. It is also possible to test a piece that has already been manufactured, to check whether it behaves mechanically as designed, or even an entire assembly, such as a car\u2019s gearbox. In the latter case, it is usual to subject the entire system to a fatigue test to see how it withstands day-to-day use, not just the material from which it is made.<\/span><\/p>

The underlying idea is the same in all three cases: by pushing it to its true limit, you get reliable data about how a component will actually behave once it is in service. This is different from non-destructive testing, which examines a part from the outside or inside (for example, with ultrasound or X-rays) without damaging it, but which does not tell you how much it can withstand before failing.<\/span><\/p>

In practice, they are the basis of any serious quality control in sectors such as metallurgy, construction or automotive: they confirm that a material, a component or an assembly really meets what it promises, and not just what the supplier's technical specifications say.<\/span><\/p>


<\/b>Destructive vs. non-destructive testing: Which do you need?<\/b><\/h2>

Before looking at the types, it is worth clarifying this difference, because many material laboratories combine both approaches depending on what they need to test:<\/span>

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Destructive tests<\/b><\/p><\/th>

Non-destructive tests<\/b><\/p><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>

What to rehearse<\/b><\/p><\/td>

It breaks or becomes deformed (material, part or assembly)<\/span><\/p><\/td>

It remains intact and can be used as before.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

What does it say to you?<\/b><\/p><\/td>

How long it lasts and how the material behaves<\/span><\/p><\/td>

If it has internal or surface defects<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

When to use it<\/b><\/p><\/td>

Certifying a batch, validating a manufactured part, or testing an entire assembly<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Checking already manufactured or in-service parts without damaging them<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Examples<\/b><\/p><\/td>

Traction, compression, flexion, hardness, fatigue, torsion<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Ultrasound, magnetic particles, radiography<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>


<\/span>Put simply: if you need to know how much a material, a piece, or a complete assembly really holds before it fails, you need a destructive test. If what you want is to check something that has already been manufactured without damaging it, then you are interested in a non-destructive test.<\/span><\/p>

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<\/b>Most common types of destructive tests in a laboratory<\/b><\/h2>

Ensayo de tracci\u00f3n<\/b><\/h3>

It is, without a doubt, the most requested essay in any <\/span>Materials laboratory<\/span><\/a>. It consists of stretching a sample until it breaks, while recording how it deforms as the force increases. From there, the most important data about the material are extracted: how much it can withstand, how far it can be stretched without being damaged, and at what point it breaks. This is done in a <\/span>universal testing machine<\/span><\/a>, And if you work specifically with steel, we recommend our complete guide on the <\/span>tensile test on steel<\/span><\/a>.

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Compression test<\/b><\/h3>

It is, in a way, the opposite test: instead of stretching the sample, it is compressed. It is the most common for concrete, mortars, rocks and other fragile materials, where it is more interesting to know how they hold up when crushed than when stretched. You can read more in our article about <\/span>compression tests<\/span><\/a>.

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Flexion test<\/b><\/h3>

Here, the sample is supported on two points and force is applied in the center, almost as if we were bending it with our hands. This is common in materials such as castings, ceramics, or welds, where it is of interest to know how they behave when bent, rather than when stretched.

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Hardness test<\/b><\/h3>

It measures how much a material\u2019s surface can resist being marked or penetrated by something, using methods known as Brinell, Vickers or Rockwell. The damage it leaves is minimal, almost a small mark, so some do not consider it a \u201cdestructive\u201d test in the strict sense, although it does leave a permanent mark on the piece.

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Fatigue test<\/b><\/h3>

It consists of repeating an effort many times\u2014sometimes millions\u2014to see how long something lasts before breaking due to accumulated wear. It is key in parts that work under repeated stresses, such as vehicle axles or components, but it also applies to complete assemblies: a gearbox, for example, is usually subjected to a fatigue test as a whole system, not just as individual parts. It requires specific equipment, such as our <\/span>fatigue machines<\/span><\/a>; if you are interested in the details, you can read more about it <\/span>How long does a fatigue test take?<\/span><\/a>.

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Twist test<\/b><\/h3>

Here, the sample is rotated about its own axis to see how it withstands such an effort; this is especially relevant for threaded axes and connections. If you work with these types of connections, you may be interested in our content on <\/span>Preload tests on bolted joints<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>

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What regulations regulate destructive testing?<\/b><\/h2>

In Spain and Europe, these types of tests follow the existing UNE-EN and ISO standards, primarily to ensure that two different laboratories reach the same result when testing the same material in the same way. This is essential when your report is to accompany a certified work or an approved industrial project.<\/span><\/p>

As a reference, here are the rules you are likely to encounter depending on the type of test:<\/span><\/p>



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Essay<\/b><\/p><\/th>

Reference legislation<\/b><\/p><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>

Traction in metals<\/span><\/p><\/td>

ISO 6892-1, UNE-EN ISO 6892-1<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Compression in concrete<\/span><\/p><\/td>

UNE-EN 12390-3<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Flexion<\/span><\/p><\/td>

UNE-EN ISO 7438<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Hardness (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell)<\/span><\/p><\/td>

UNE-EN ISO 6506, 6507, 6508<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Fatigue<\/span><\/p><\/td>

ISO 1099<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Calibration of the testing machine<\/span><\/p><\/td>

ISO 7500-1<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

If your laboratory works with ENAC accreditation, keep in mind that regular calibration of your equipment is as important as following the test procedure properly.<\/span><\/p>


<\/b>What machine you need based on the test and the material<\/b><\/h2>

There is no single machine that is suitable for everything, although the name \u201cuniversal machine\u201d may give that impression. The choice depends primarily on three things: what experiment you need to perform, how much force you will have to apply, and what type of material you will be testing. As a general guideline:<\/span>

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