This document specifies methods for determining the compressive properties, in directions parallel to the plane of lamination, of fibre-reinforced plastic composites, based on thermosetting or thermoplastic matrices. The compressive properties are of interest for specifications and quality-control purposes. The test specimens are machined from a flat test plate, or from suitable finished or semi-finished products.


Two loading methods and two types of specimen are described.


The loading methods are:


—     Method 1: provides shear loading of the specimen (gauge length unsupported)


—     Method 2: provides combined loading of the specimen (gauge length unsupported)


NOTE          For tabbed specimens loaded using method 2, load is transferred through a combination of end-loading and shear-loading through the tabs.


The specimen designs are:


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