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.