What is a destructive test?

A destructive test refers to a testing method in which the sample being examined is subjected to conditions that cause it to fail or be destroyed. This type of testing is crucial in determining the material's ultimate strength, ductility, and other mechanical properties under extreme conditions. For example, tensile tests, where materials are pulled until they break, fall under this category. The results provide valuable data about how materials will behave under real-world conditions, making destructive testing essential for applications where material performance is critical, such as in construction, manufacturing, and safety assessments.

In contrast, other testing methods such as non-destructive testing aim to evaluate materials without compromising their integrity, which is why they wouldn't be classified as destructive. This is key in applications where the material needs to be preserved for future use or when visual inspections alone cannot provide the necessary information regarding the material's properties.