Fracture toughness testing provides insight into the stress needed to propagate preexisting flaws in a material. Flaws such as cracks, weld defects, and design discontinuities occur throughout the materials’ production and service life, so manufacturers must evaluate the toughness of materials to determine their best application. Failure to inspect materials may result in abrupt failure, expensive repairs, and safety concerns as there may be unaddressed and unseen flaws propagating within a material.