Damage leading to failure in concrete and related materials is a complex behavior. Whilst many numerical approaches are available for simulating the degradation of material strength, it is difficult to discriminate between these models experimentally in the high strain rate ballistic impact regime. An experimental method has been developed to determine when local material failure has occurred, and whether the failure can be classed as fracture or granular flow. This method is tested on Kolsky bar and ballistic impact experiments. Comparison with numerical simulations is presented.