Method for characterizing a material (10), characterized in that it comprises the steps of carrying out a bending test and calculating a cross-section moment, M of said material (10) using the following equation: M = F · L m ⁡ ( β 1 ) 2 · cos 2 ⁡ ( β 1 ) where F is the applied bending force, Lm (β1) is the moment arm, and β1 is the bending angle. The expression for the moment, M, fulfils the condition for energy equilibrium: ∫Fds=∫2Mdβ2 when the true bending angle, β2 is: β 1 - ∫ t · sin ⁡ ( β 1 ) L m ⁢ d ⁢ ⁢ β 1 .