The paper describes the magnetic pulse method for the formation of controlled pressure pulses in a microsecond range of duration for testing the dynamic mechanical strength of brittle materials. The scheme of the experimental setup includes a pulse current generator (PCG), the magnetic pulse loading system, the pulse current measuring system and the sample. The main parameters of the developed experimental setup are given - charging voltage, capacitance, inductance, active resistance of the PCG. Zirconium dioxide samples were tested according to this method. Numerical simulation of pulsed magnetic and dynamic mechanical fields during testing of materials is performed. Experimental pulses of the generated pressure are calculated. Based on the results of experiments and numerical modeling, the dynamic mechanical strength of zirconium dioxide under loading mode I was determined based on the described method.