Destructive Testing (DT) refers to a set of methods used to evaluate the strength, durability, and performance of materials or structural elements by subjecting them to loads or conditions until failure occurs. These tests are critical for ensuring that construction materials, components, and structures meet design specifications, safety standards, and performance criteria. Unlike Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), destructive testing intentionally damages the sample to determine its ultimate strength, behavior under load, and failure mode.

The Concrete Core Test is a destructive testing method used to determine the in-situ compressive strength and quality of hardened concrete in existing structures. This test involves extracting cylindrical concrete cores from structural elements such as slabs, beams, columns, or pavements and testing them in the laboratory under controlled conditions. It is widely used for quality verification, structural assessment, and retrofitting decisions.