The invention relates to a method for detecting material damage to a material (10) comprising a metal matrix (12) and ceramic particles (14) embedded therein. A volume enlarging phase shift of the particles (14) is suppressed by a pressure applied by the metal matrix (12) onto the particles. If, however, a tear (20) is formed in the material (10), a phase shift of the particles (14) occurs to a volume enlarging phase (B), which is detected according to the invention by means of determining a measured variable that is representative of the proportion of the volume enlarged phase (B).