In order to detect the presence of damage and imperfections in materials, a new and promising method for non-destructive material testing has been developed. The technique focuses on the non-linear distortions that are present in the results of a frequency response function (FRF) or transfer function measurement of the sample. The kernel idea in the described method is to use well-chosen periodic excitations where only some of the considered frequency components are excited. The non-excited frequency lines are used to detect, qualify (even or odd non-linear distortions) and quantify (What is the level of the non-linear distortions?) the non-linear distortions. Undamaged materials are often essentially linear in their response. However, the non-linear behaviour of the same material increases significantly when damage appears. The method is applied in the field of damage detection and health monitoring. The method is illustrated by experiments on uncracked and cracked artificial slate beams used in civil constructions and during mechanical cyclic fatigue loading. The developed technique demonstrated to be a very fast and efficient tool to assess global damage in a material.