This paper highlights three advantages of infrared thermography as a nondestructive, non-contact and in real-time technique. It permits first observation of the physical manifestation of damage and the mechanism of failure of concrete, second detection of the occurrence of intrinsic dissipation localization, and third evaluation of the fatigue strength in a very short time, compared to traditional testing techniques. In addition, infrared thermography readily describes the damage location and the evolution of structural failure. The investigated parameter is heat generation due to intrinsic dissipation of concrete subject to compressive loading. Owing to the thermomechanical coupling, this technique provides a simple means for evaluating fatigue strength and for discriminating diverse dissipative phenomena.