Compressietests

Compressietests are mechanical tests that measure a material’s response to axial compressive loading. They are used to determine properties such as compressive strength, stiffness in compression, and deformation behavior up to failure. The tests can be conducted on metals, polymers, ceramics, concrete, soils, and composites, with specimen geometry and loading conditions chosen to match relevant standards or applications.

Typical methods include uniaxial compression tests in which a specimen is placed between rigid platens and loaded at a controlled rate until failure. Cylindrical or cubic specimens are common; for concrete, cylinders or cubes are standard, while soils and rocks may be tested in triaxial or oedometer configurations to simulate in-situ conditions. Some tests involve confined or multiaxial loading to mimic real structural stresses.

During testing, axial load and displacement are recorded to generate a stress–strain curve. Key outputs include compressive strength (the maximum stress sustained), the modulus of elasticity in compression (slope of the initial linear portion), and the observed failure mode. For some materials, yield criteria or crush strengths are reported using standard offsets or failure definitions.

Equipment and standards: tests are performed on universal testing machines or hydraulic presses equipped with rigid compression platens. Accurate alignment, platen flatness, and end effects influence results. Standards specify specimen size, loading rate, environmental conditions, and data analysis; examples span plastics, metals, concrete, and soils, published by organizations such as ASTM and ISO.

Applications: compressietests support quality control, material selection, structural design, and research by characterizing strength, stiffness, and long-term behavior under sustained load, contributing to safety and performance assessments across engineering disciplines.