Formula Used:
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Compressive Strength of Material is defined as the pressure required to crush material. It represents the material's ability to withstand loads that tend to reduce size, as opposed to tensile strength which withstands loads tending to elongate.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the compressive strength by dividing the applied force by the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the force direction.
Details: Compressive strength is a critical mechanical property that determines a material's ability to resist compression and deformation under load. It's essential for structural design, material selection, and quality control in construction and manufacturing industries.
Tips: Enter force in Newtons and cross-sectional area in square meters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What units should I use for the inputs?
A: Force should be in Newtons (N) and cross-sectional area should be in square meters (m²) for the result in Pascals (Pa).
Q2: How does compressive strength differ from tensile strength?
A: Compressive strength measures resistance to compression (squashing), while tensile strength measures resistance to tension (stretching).
Q3: What are typical compressive strength values for common materials?
A: Concrete: 20-40 MPa, Steel: 250-400 MPa, Wood: 5-80 MPa (parallel to grain), Brick: 5-70 MPa.
Q4: Why is cross-sectional area important in this calculation?
A: The compressive strength is normalized by area to provide a pressure value that can be compared across different sample sizes and geometries.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for all materials?
A: Yes, the basic formula applies to all materials, though specific testing standards may vary for different material types.