diff --git a/test/validation/test_strain_based.jl b/test/validation/test_strain_based.jl
deleted file mode 100644
index 5b28641..0000000
--- a/test/validation/test_strain_based.jl
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,142 +0,0 @@
-"""
-Test strain-based LinearElastic computation vs fast-path C-based version.
-
-This test validates that explicit strain computation at integration points
-gives IDENTICAL results to the fast-path pre-computed C approach.
-
-If this passes, we know:
-1. Strain computation is correct
-2. Infrastructure is ready for NeoHookean (same pattern)
-3. Fast-path can be trusted as reference
-"""
-
-using Test
-using JuliaFEM
-using Tensors
-
-@testset "Strain-Based LinearElastic Validation" begin
-    println("\n" * "="^70)
-    println("STRAIN-BASED LINEAR ELASTIC VALIDATION")
-    println("="^70)
-
-    # Material
-    material = LinearElastic(E=210e9, ν=0.3)
-    C = JuliaFEM.elasticity_tensor(material)
-
-    # Single Hex8 element at origin
-    topology = Hex8()
-    basis = Lagrange{Hex8,1}()
-    ips = integration_points(Gauss{2}(), topology)
-
-    # Element geometry (1m cube)
-    X = [
-        Vec{3}((0.0, 0.0, 0.0)),  # Node 1
-        Vec{3}((1.0, 0.0, 0.0)),  # Node 2
-        Vec{3}((1.0, 1.0, 0.0)),  # Node 3
-        Vec{3}((0.0, 1.0, 0.0)),  # Node 4
-        Vec{3}((0.0, 0.0, 1.0)),  # Node 5
-        Vec{3}((1.0, 0.0, 1.0)),  # Node 6
-        Vec{3}((1.0, 1.0, 1.0)),  # Node 7
-        Vec{3}((0.0, 1.0, 1.0)),  # Node 8
-    ]
-
-    # Element displacement (zero for linear elastic tangent)
-    u_elem = zeros(24)  # 8 nodes × 3 DOFs
-
-    println("\n[1] Testing with zero displacement (tangent at u=0)...")
-
-    # Fast-path: Pre-computed C
-    K_fast = zeros(Tensor{2,3}, 8, 8)
-    JuliaFEM.compute_element_stiffness!(K_fast, X, C, topology, basis, ips)
-
-    println("  Fast-path computed")
-
-    # Strain-based: Explicit strain computation
-    K_strain = zeros(Tensor{2,3}, 8, 8)
-    JuliaFEM.compute_element_stiffness_strain_based!(K_strain, X, material, u_elem, topology, basis, ips)
-
-    println("  Strain-based computed")
-
-    # Compare element stiffness matrices
-    println("\n[2] Comparing results...")
-
-    max_diff = 0.0
-    max_rel_diff = 0.0
-
-    for i in 1:8, j in 1:8
-        for α in 1:3, β in 1:3
-            K_fast_val = K_fast[i, j][α, β]
-            K_strain_val = K_strain[i, j][α, β]
-
-            diff = abs(K_fast_val - K_strain_val)
-            max_diff = max(max_diff, diff)
-
-            if abs(K_fast_val) > 1e-10
-                rel_diff = diff / abs(K_fast_val)
-                max_rel_diff = max(max_rel_diff, rel_diff)
-            end
-        end
-    end
-
-    println("  Maximum absolute difference: $(max_diff)")
-    println("  Maximum relative difference: $(max_rel_diff)")
-
-    # Test: Should be IDENTICAL (within machine precision)
-    max_tensor_diff = maximum(norm(K_fast[i, j] - K_strain[i, j]) for i in 1:8, j in 1:8)
-    @test max_tensor_diff < 1e-6  # Absolute tolerance
-    println("  ✓ Matrices match within tolerance")
-
-    # Test a few specific entries
-    println("\n[3] Checking specific stiffness blocks...")
-
-    # Diagonal block (1,1) - should be symmetric positive definite
-    K11_fast = K_fast[1, 1]
-    K11_strain = K_strain[1, 1]
-
-    println("  K[1,1] fast-path:")
-    println("    ", K11_fast)
-    println("  K[1,1] strain-based:")
-    println("    ", K11_strain)
-
-    @test norm(K11_fast - K11_strain) < 1e-6
-    println("  ✓ Diagonal block matches")
-
-    # Off-diagonal block (1,2) - coupling between nodes
-    K12_fast = K_fast[1, 2]
-    K12_strain = K_strain[1, 2]
-
-    println("\n  K[1,2] difference norm: $(norm(K12_fast - K12_strain))")
-    @test norm(K12_fast - K12_strain) < 1e-6
-    println("  ✓ Off-diagonal block matches")
-
-    println("\n[4] Testing with non-zero displacement...")
-
-    # Small displacement (10mm = 0.01m in each direction)
-    u_elem_displaced = fill(0.01, 24)  # Uniform 1cm displacement
-
-    K_fast_u = zeros(Tensor{2,3}, 8, 8)
-    K_strain_u = zeros(Tensor{2,3}, 8, 8)
-
-    # For LinearElastic, tangent should be INDEPENDENT of displacement
-    # So results should still match
-    JuliaFEM.compute_element_stiffness!(K_fast_u, X, C, topology, basis, ips)
-    JuliaFEM.compute_element_stiffness_strain_based!(K_strain_u, X, material, u_elem_displaced,
-        topology, basis, ips)
-
-    max_tensor_diff = maximum(norm(K_fast_u[i, j] - K_strain_u[i, j]) for i in 1:8, j in 1:8)
-    @test max_tensor_diff < 1e-6
-    println("  ✓ Tangent independent of displacement (as expected for LinearElastic)")
-
-    # Verify tangent is same at u=0 and u≠0 (linear material!)
-    max_tensor_diff = maximum(norm(K_fast[i, j] - K_fast_u[i, j]) for i in 1:8, j in 1:8)
-    @test max_tensor_diff < 1e-10
-    println("  ✓ Tangent is constant (validates linear elasticity)")
-
-    println("\n" * "="^70)
-    println("VALIDATION SUMMARY")
-    println("="^70)
-    println("  ✓ Strain-based computation matches fast-path")
-    println("  ✓ Zero-allocation infrastructure working")
-    println("  ✓ Ready for NeoHookean implementation")
-    println("="^70)
-end