Compression

Compression tests are performed to evaluate the performance of a material or component under gradually increasing compressive load. This usually involves compressing a specimen to a pre-defined load limit and measuring its deformation or alternatively compressing the specimen until it breaks or cracks.

Specimens can be compressed between two uniform compression fixtures (e.g. plates) or alternatively the specimen can be placed on the base of a testing machine and compressed from above by a single compression fixture (e.g. probe).

The selection of compression fixtures should be determined by the variety of different shapes and sizes of the specimens you need to test plus the surface finish best suited to the application.