S.E. Civil 2019 Pattern - Mechanics of Structures Practical's 2. Compression Test On Timber- In compression test, attempt is made to apply an axial load to a test specimen so that uniform stress distribution can be ensured over the critical section. In such tests the specimen is subjected to a gradually increasing (i.e. static) uniaxial load until failure occurs. The static compression tests are the most commonly made and are among the simplest of all the mechanical tests. These tests provide almost all the fundamental mechanical properties for use in design. For brittle materials such as mortar, concrete, brick, and ceramic products, whose tensile strengths are low compared with their compressive strengths, and which are principally employed to resist compressive forces, the compression test is more significant and finds greater use. Please watch video for more details-