To characterize concrete, ultrasonic sound is a tool that has been developed to access damage and cracking. Its heterogeneity and the scales of sizes of micro-structural elements are necessary to consider a wide range of tools for characterization. We define the parameters that can be extracted from the wave propagation and vibration conditions into a beam in the laboratory. The scale measures are specified and the importance of each test condition is explained. We focus on nonlinear acoustics which is particularly appropriate for monitoring the developments on the mesoscopic scale. We study the conditions for harmonic generation and modulation, and specify the possibilities of working with energy. The beams in some cases are cracked over a determined length. The findings present the advantages of this technique and the difficulties inherent to their on site implementation.