It is opposite of the tensile test, but the compression test is also applied to tensile test devices. In general, brittle materials such as gray cast iron, bearing alloys, bricks, concrete, ceramics are tested which have a much higher compressive strength than tensile strength. In addition, the compression test is preferred to determine mechanical properties of expensive, very small or very few samples.

 

Standards:

TS 206: Compression Testing of Metallic Materials

TS EN 2850: Aerospace series – Carbon fibre thermosetting resin – Unidirectional laminates – Compression test parallel to fibre direction.