A method for determining the strain limits of a material, comprising: loading a test specimen (102, 200) comprising the material, in a load fixture, wherein the load fixture comprises a top retaining block and a bottom retaining block configured to retain the test specimen therebetween, the top retaining block further comprising a first contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a first contact point and a second contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a second contact point, and the bottom retaining block comprising a third contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a third contact point and a fourth contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a fourth contact point, wherein the distance between the first and second contact saddles is different than the distance between the third and fourth contact saddles, and wherein the top and bottom saddles contact the specimen at centrally equidistant points, the top retaining block comprising an observation hole; applying a mechanical load to the test specimen through the first contact saddle at the first contact point, through the second contact saddle at the second contact point, through the third contact saddle at the third contact point, and through the fourth contact saddle at the fourth contact point, wherein the first contact saddle, the second contact saddle, the third contact saddle, and the fourth contact saddle are together configured to impart a bending load onto the test specimen; and observing the test specimen through the observation hole under illumination and magnification for detection of cracking while the mechanical load is applied, and wherein the material comprises at least one of a coating, and a coated material, characterized in that the top and bottom retaining blocks further comprise receptacles (310, 311, 312, 313) to receive the respective saddles, the top and bottom retaining blocks comprise top and bottom arched spacing (314, 316) respectively, and the magnification is between 10X to 50X. loading a test specimen (102, 200) comprising the material, in a load fixture, wherein the load fixture comprises a top retaining block and a bottom retaining block configured to retain the test specimen therebetween, the top retaining block further comprising a first contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a first contact point and a second contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a second contact point, and the bottom retaining block comprising a third contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a third contact point and a fourth contact saddle configured to contact the test specimen at a fourth contact point, wherein the distance between the first and second contact saddles is different than the distance between the third and fourth contact saddles, and wherein the top and bottom saddles contact the specimen at centrally equidistant points, the top retaining block comprising an observation hole; applying a mechanical load to the test specimen through the first contact saddle at the first contact point, through the second contact saddle at the second contact point, through the third contact saddle at the third contact point, and through the fourth contact saddle at the fourth contact point, wherein the first contact saddle, the second contact saddle, the third contact saddle, and the fourth contact saddle are together configured to impart a bending load onto the test specimen; and observing the test specimen through the observation hole under illumination and magnification for detection of cracking while the mechanical load is applied, and wherein the material comprises at least one of a coating, and a coated material, characterized in that the top and bottom retaining blocks further comprise receptacles (310, 311, 312, 313) to receive the respective saddles, the top and bottom retaining blocks comprise top and bottom arched spacing (314, 316) respectively, and the magnification is between 10X to 50X.