Engineering English
Compressive Strength
Engineering Fundamentals · Civil Engineering · Mechanical Engineering · Materials Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The maximum stress a material can withstand under compression before failure. It is critical for columns, foundations, and other load-bearing elements that experience pushing forces.
Example in context
“The compressive strength of concrete is typically measured after 28 days of curing.”
“Betonun basınç dayanımı genellikle 28 günlük kür sonrasında ölçülür.”
Where engineers use it
Compressive strength is a key parameter in civil engineering for designing columns, arches, and footings. It ensures that materials can support applied loads without crushing.
Synonyms: crushing strength
In Civil Engineering
The maximum axial compressive stress a material can withstand before failure, commonly measured on concrete cylinders or cubes at a specified age.
“After 28 days, the cubes were crushed in the press to verify that the compressive strength met the specified 30 MPa.”
In Mechanical Engineering
Compressive strength is the maximum compressive stress a material can withstand without fracture. It is determined by dividing the maximum load by the original cross-sectional area.
“The engineer verified that the concrete column's compressive strength exceeded the building code requirement by 15%.”
In Materials Engineering
The maximum axial compressive load a material can withstand divided by its original cross-sectional area. It indicates the material's resistance to being crushed.
“The concrete cylinder achieved a compressive strength of 35 MPa after 28 days of curing.”
Practice: can you use “Compressive Strength” at work?
You are designing a concrete column for a multi-story building. The design load is 5000 kN and the column cross-section is 0.5 m². Calculate the required compressive strength including a safety factor.
Show a model answer
“Verify the compressive strength of the foundation concrete before proceeding with construction.”
“Compressive Strength” in 21 languages
| English | Compressive Strength |
|---|---|
| Turkish | basınç dayanımı |
| French | résistance à la compression |
| German | Druckfestigkeit |
| Spanish | resistencia a la compresión |
| Chinese | 抗压强度 |
| Arabic | مقاومة الانضغاط |
| Portuguese | resistência à compressão |
| Russian | предел прочности на сжатие |
| Japanese | 圧縮強さ |
| Italian | resistenza a compressione |
| Vietnamese | độ bền nén |
| Hindi | संपीड़न शक्ति |
| Thai | ความต้านทานแรงกด |
| Indonesian | kekuatan tekan |
| Korean | 압축 강도 |
| Bengali | কম্প্রেসিভ স্ট্রেংথ |
| Dutch | druksterkte |
| Swedish | tryckhållfasthet |
| Finnish | puristuslujuus |
| Ukrainian | міцність на стиск |
Frequently asked questions
What does Compressive Strength mean in engineering?
The maximum stress a material can withstand under compression before failure. It is critical for columns, foundations, and other load-bearing elements that experience pushing forces. In Engineering Fundamentals, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Compressive Strength?
Compressive Strength is pronounced /kəmˈprɛsɪv strɛŋθ/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Compressive Strength used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The compressive strength of concrete is typically measured after 28 days of curing.”
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