Compression Testing
Compression testing is a way of determining how something will react when it is squashed, or when a force is applied to it in compression. It is performed to:
- assess the strength of components e.g. automotive and aeronautical control switches, compression springs, bellows, keypads, package seals, PET containers, PVC / ABS pipes, solenoids etc.
- characterise the compressive properties of materials, e.g. foam, metal, PET and other plastics and rubber
- assess the performance of products, e.g. the expression force of a syringe or the load-displacement characteristics of a tennis ball
Types of compression test include:
Compression test standards
There are many standards for compression testing, developed by organisations such as ASTM, BS, DIN, ISO and MIL. They include:
- ASTM D575-91 : Rubber Properties in Compression
- ASTM D1710-08 : Standard Specification for Extruded Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Rod, Heavy Walled Tubing and Basic Shapes
- ASTM D6713-01 : Standard Specification for Extruded and Compression Molded Shapes Made from Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) (PVDF)
- ASTM E9-09 : Compression Testing of Metallic Materials at Room Temperature
- ASTM F628-12e1 : Standard Specification for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Schedule 40 Plastic Drain, Waste, and Vent Pipe With a Cellular Core
- BS EN 14488-2 : Testing Sprayed Concrete, Compressive Strength of Young Sprayed Concrete
- BS EN 12365-2 : Building hardware. Gasket and weatherstripping for doors, windows, shutters and curtain walling. Linear compression force test methods
- BS EN / IEC 61300-3-22 : Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components - Basic test and measurement procedures Part 3-22: Examinations and measurements - Ferrule compression force
- BS EN 61212-2 : Insulating materials. Industrial rigid round laminated tubes and rods based on thermosetting resins for electrical purposes. Methods of test
- BS ISO 844 : Rigid cellular plastics. Determination of compression properties
- ISO 9895:1989 : Paper and board - Compressive strength - Short-span test
