Destructive Testing

Destructive testing is testing which destroys or physically changes the configuration of the object being tested.   After destructive testing the object may not be usable as originally designed/intended.  Examples of destructive testing include (but are not limited to) tensile testing, metallography, impact testing, chemical analysis, etc.

It is a process where load or stress is applied to the object of interest until the test specimen fails. These tests are generally much easier to carry out, yield more information, and are easier to interpret than the result of non-destructive testing. Nondestructive testing of an object is often done in view of future use, which would make destructive testing pointless. However, destructive testing can be useful if the result gives information about similar specimens which are not tested.