Compression Testing

Verify your materials' strength and durability with Element’s comprehensive compression testing, to reveal weaknesses before they become costly problems. From aerospace components to building materials, get precise, reliable data that meets regulatory requirements and prevents product failures - giving you confidence in product performance and accelerating your path to market.

Technician Completing a compression test

What is Compression Testing at Element?

Compression testing evaluates a material's ability to withstand forces that squeeze or compress, causing it to become shorter or compacted. At Element, we provide comprehensive compression testing services for diverse materials and components, from metals and polymers to rubber and timber. Our testing identifies potential weaknesses, validates structural designs, and confirms your products meet required specifications under real-world compression conditions - critical for ensuring structural integrity and performance.

We also offer specialized open hole compression testing, which simulates flaws in composite components or areas requiring fastener holes, using a side support fixture to prevent Euler buckling and ensure the only acceptable failure occurs at the hole.

Element testing specialist examining precision measurement equipment for materials analysis

What Can Element Offer You For Compression Testing?

Key tests offered

Get precise data on your materials' compression behavior with our comprehensive test portfolio. From basic compression strength measurements to specialized tests like compression after impact (CAI) and open hole compression, we deliver the exact insights you need to validate product performance and meet industry requirements across aerospace, automotive, defense, and medical sectors.

Compression strength and set testing
Compression after impact (CAI) for composite evaluation
Open hole and filled hole compression testing
Compressive force and stress-strain characteristics
Combined loading compression and stress relaxation
Edgewise and flatwise compression for sandwich structures
Core and sandwich compression testing

Components and materials we test

Access specialized testing for a wide range of materials and components, including shipping containers, structures, foams, metals, coatings, polymers, rubber, and timber. Our laboratories handle everything from simple compression tests to complex evaluations like compression after impact, stress relaxation and open hole compression, giving you complete confidence in your material's performance under pressure.

Shipping containers and packaging systems
Metal components and nuts
Polymer matrix composites (PMCs)
Rubber and elastomers
Timber materials (parallel and perpendicular to grain)
Structural adhesives and glare materials
Composite sandwiches and laminates

Methods and solutions offered

Address your unique testing challenges with our adaptable testing programs. Whether you need standard compression testing or custom setups for specialized materials, our experts configure the right methodology to deliver actionable results. We accommodate temperature variants from -70°C to 320°C, ensuring your materials are tested under relevant environmental conditions for your specific application needs.

Custom compression testing programs for unique requirements
Temperature variance testing from -70°C to 320°C
Specialized testing for composite materials with side support fixtures
Standard and custom test methodologies for diverse applications
Testing for bolted or riveted composite joints using notched compression
Flattening, crushing, compressive strength, uniaxial, lateral testing methods
Young's modulus, Hooke's law, and buckling evaluation techniques

Advanced composite testing expertise
Solve complex material challenges with our specialized composite testing services, including open hole compression, filled hole compression, and compression after impact. These advanced tests simulate real-world conditions like fastener holes and potential damage, providing critical data for aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing applications. Our expertise in analyzing how small inclusions or damages affect strength properties helps you design safer, more reliable composite structures for demanding applications.

Cutting-edge equipment we use

Gain reliable results from our state-of-the-art compression testing equipment across 27 global laboratories. Our adaptable labs accommodate both standard and custom test setups, with specialized fixtures like side support fixtures for open hole compression testing to prevent Euler buckling. Our advanced equipment allows for precise measurement of compression properties across a wide range of materials, providing you with only the most accurate data points for your critical applications.

Which labs offer this service

Our 8,500-strong team operates from Materials Testing hubs across the world, providing global access to our expert capabilities. Find your nearest Materials Testing hub on our Locations Page.

Standards we meet and components we test

These are our most prevalent requests. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us!

ASTM D6484 (Open hole compression test)
ASTM D6742 (Filled hole compression testing)
Multiple aerospace, automotive, military, and general industry standards

Accreditations:

Aerospace and Aviation:

Aerojet
Airbus
Boeing
Bombardier
Cessna
Embraer
GE
Gulfstream
Robinson
ULA (United Launch Alliance)

Automotive and Transportation:

Premium Aerotec

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals:

FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
Health Canada
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)

Military and Defense:

Lockheed
Northrop

Quality Management Systems:

ISO 17025
ISO 9001
Nadcap (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program)
PJLA (Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation)
SCC (Standards Council of Canada)

Your Challenges, Our Solutions

Ensuring performance of critical applications

When material failure isn't an option, our comprehensive compression testing reveals exactly how your products perform under real-world compressive forces, helping you identify weaknesses before they become costly failures and giving you the data needed to optimize designs for maximum durability and reliability.

Meeting global standards compliance

Navigate complex compliance requirements with our accredited testing services. Our laboratories maintain numerous certifications including ISO 17025, ISO 9001, and Nadcap, helping you meet international standards and avoid regulatory delays that could impact your market entry timeline and global distribution plans.

Catching defects and issues quickly

Move beyond basic quality control with advanced compression testing that enhances your quality assurance processes. Our precision testing identifies potential defects and performance issues before they reach customers, protecting your reputation and reducing recall risks while providing documentation to support your quality claims.

Unique testing needs

Address specialized testing needs with our adaptable laboratories that accommodate temperature variants from -70°C to 320°C and custom testing fixtures. We replicate your products' exact operating environments to deliver relevant performance data that truly reflects real-world usage, validating performance across your full range of operating conditions.