Thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA) has been used to monitor damage evolution in several composite systems. The method is used to measure full-field hydrostatic stress maps across the entire visible surface of a sample, to quantify the stress redistribution that is caused by damage and to image the existing damage state in composites. Stress maps and damage images are constructed by measuring the thermoelastic and dissipational thermal signatures during cyclic loading. To explore the general utility of the method, test samples of several ceramic-matrix and cement-matrix composites have been fabricated and tested according to a prescribed damage schedule. The model materials have been chosen to illustrate the effect of each of three damage mechanisms: a single crack that is bridged by fibers, multiple matrix cracking, and shear bands. It is shown that the TSA method can be used to quantify the effect of damage and identify the operative damage mechanism. Each mechanism is identified by a characteristic thermal signature, and each is shown to be effective at redistributing stress and diffusing stress concentrations. The proposed experimental method presents a new way to measure the current damage state of a composite material.