COMPRESSION TEST

The compression test, or

compression test, is performed by applying
forces to a material that push it inwardly
from the opposite side and cause the
material to jam, crush or flatten. When
performing this test, the test sample is
generally placed between two plates
distributing the applied load across the
entire surface area of the two opposite
faces, which are then pushed together by a universal testing machine which causes the sample
to flatten. The compressed test sample generally shortens in the direction of the applied
forces and expands in the direction perpendicular to the force. The compression test is
essentially the opposite of the commonly applied tension test.

The main purpose of compression tests is to determine the behavior and response of a
material under a compression load by measuring fundamental variables such as stress and
deformation. With the compressive force applied to the material, the elastic modulus of the
material is determined between the compressive strength, yield strength, final strength, elastic
boundary and other parameters. By understanding these different parameters and the values
associated with a particular material, it is understood whether the material is suitable for
certain applications or whether it will fail under certain stresses.

Generally, a compression test for a material requires at least two reciprocal forces
applied to the surface of the sample to compress the sample. However, apart from this basic
requirement, there are many different applications involving a combination of different
variables. For example, more common compression tests include forces applied to multiple
axes of the sample and testing the sample at high and low temperatures. The main
compression test examples are uniaxial, biaxial, triaxial, cold temperature, high temperature,
fatigue and creep tests.
 The materials subjected to compression tests are those which generally have a
compressive force considered to be high and a tensile force which is considered to have a
lower value. In fact, any material may somehow experience compression forces depending on
the area to which it is applied. For example, these tests are applied for composites, concretes,
wood, stone, brick, mortar, polymers, plastics, foam and metals.

There are a number of compression testing methods developed by the American

Testing and Materials Organization (ASTM) and the International Organization for Standards
:(ISO). A few of these standards are as follows

 ASTM D575-91 (2018) Standard test methods for rubber properties in compression.
 ASTM D6641 / D6641M Standard Test Method for Pressure Properties of Polymer
Matrix Composite Materials Using Combined Loading Compression (CLC) Test
Fixture.
 ASTM D695-15 Standard Test Method for Pressure Properties of Hard Plastics.
 ASTM E9-19 Standard test methods of compression testing of metallic materials at
room temperature.
 TS EN ISO 14126 Fiber reinforced plastic composites - Determination of plane
compression properties.
 TS EN ISO 1856 Flexible, porous polymeric materials - Determination of crushing
rate under pressure.
 TS EN ISO 844 Hard porous plastics - Determination of compression properties.

In short, the compression test is one of the most important tests to determine the
behavior of composite materials. The mechanical properties of these materials can be
altered by applying a load, but the compression properties are difficult to measure
because the design of the material relates to the compression properties of the material
caused by the applied load. It is necessary to calculate the stress and strain relationship
and use this value to determine the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of
the material.

References
https://www.eurolab.com.tr/en/testler/elektriksel-guvenlik-testleri/basma-testi