This article presents a model of damage accumulation in irradiated crystals. This model is based on the assumption that the damage accumulation occurs through a series of structural transformations triggered by the destabilization of the current structure of crystals. Formal equations describing the damage accumulation build-up and experimental assessment of the model are presented and discussed in the framework of the actual knowledge of radiation effects in oxide crystals (yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and magnesium-aluminate spinel (MAS)), silicon carbide crystals and zirconia implanted nickel crystals.