The degree of resistance of a material to a force acting along one of its axes in a manner tending to collapse it Usually expressed in pounds of pressure per square inch (psi) of surface affected
This number describes how much of a non-moving load a bar can take before it is crushed Units are normally thousands of pounds per square inch (103 psi) - Mega Pascals (mPa) Higher numbers indicate stronger materials which can withstand a heavier load before they break
The maximum compressive stress that a material is capable of developing, based on original area of cross section If a material fails in compression by a shattering fracture, the compressive strength has a very definite value If a material does not fail in compression by shattering fracture, the value obtained for compressive strength is an arbitrary value depending upon the degree of distortion that is regarded as indicating complete failure of the material
A material's ability to resist a force that tends to crush or buckle; maximum compressive load a specimen sustains divided by the specimen's original cross-sectional area