Compression is defined as the reduction in volume of any 

material caused by the application of

pressure. Compression testing is one of the most fundamental types of mechanical testing, alongside
tensile and flexion tests. It is a method for determining the mechanical behavior of a material under a
compressive force. This test determines a wood's breaking strength. Moreover, this test reveals the
maximum load that the wood can withstand over time. Compression testing is divided into two types:
parallel grain compression and perpendicular grain compression. The load must be applied parallel to
the grain of the wood sample in parallel grain compression testing, whereas the load must be applied
perpendicular to the grain of the wood sample in perpendicular grain compression testing.

The elastic limit, proportional limit, yield point, yield strength, and compressive strength are all
determined using the compression test. The compressive strength of a material is the highest
compressive force it can endure without cracking. Brittle materials break down during testing and have a
known compressive strength. The degree of distortion of ductile materials during testing determines
their compressive strength. The elastic limit of a material is the maximum stress that it can withstand
without permanently deforming once the stress is removed. The proportional limit is the maximum
amount of stress a material can withstand without deviating from the stress-strain curve's linear
relationship, that is without generating plastic deformation. The yield point is the stress in a material at
which strain increases without stress increasing. The yield strength is the stress at which a material
deviates from a linear stress-strain relationship by a given amount.

The goal of compression testing is to determine the behavior or response of a material while it
experiences a compressive load by measuring fundamental variables, such as, strain, stress, and
deformation. The mechanical behaviors of a wood sample under compression are evaluated to provide
basic data that is crucial for design. It can also be used to see if a material is suitable for a particular use
or if it will fail under the given loads.