Abstract: A process for the predictive determination in the pre-critical range of the load at rupture of a structure, comprising subjecting the structure to a stress of the same type as the load and for a time according to a predetermined law, whilst recording the acoustical activity generated by the resulting damage, until a predetermined stress threshold is reached. A correlation is maintained between the registered acoustic emission and the relation ##EQU1## in which: ##EQU2## is the variation of acoustic energy generated by the damage, t is time,t.sub.r is the instant of rupture, .DELTA., .alpha., C, .lambda. and .phi. are coefficients, so as to predetermine the value of prediction of the load at rupture from the above law connecting time and load.

Abstract: Method for predictive determination of load, simple or combined, at rupture, of a structure, which includes subjecting the structure to a stress which is equivalent to the load; recording acoustic activity generated by damages suffered in the structure, up until a pre-determined stress threshold; and determining the predictive value of the load at rupture using the recorded acoustic emission based on a relationship linking time to the load.