What describes compressive strength?

Compressive strength refers specifically to the ability of a material to withstand crushing or pushing forces without collapsing. When a material is subjected to these kinds of forces, it is put into compression, which means that it resists being squashed or deformed. This property is critical in engineering and design, especially in structures like columns, beams, and foundations, where materials must support heavy loads.

Understanding compressive strength is essential for engineers and designers when selecting materials for specific applications, as it informs them about how much load a material can handle before failing. It is a fundamental property for materials used in construction, where the ability to endure compression is often more relevant than other properties like tensile strength (the ability to withstand being pulled apart).