Compression test

Test setup for the compression test

The compression test is a Material testing method used to establish the behaviour of metallic materials that are subject to a uniaxial compressive stress distributed uniformly over the cross-section. A cylindrical compression specimen with a defined initial section is compressed, and the compressive Force is measured and depicted in a force-compression curve. Compression tests are used to calculate compressive stress, which can be determined based on the force in relation to the initial cross-section.

They are used far less often than tensile tests, primarily to determine the compressive Strength of brittle materials or Bearing metals.