Home Compressive Strength Compressive Strength The maximum compressive stress that a material is capable of developing based on original area of cross section. In the case of a material which fails in compression by shattering fracture, the compressive strength has a very definite value. In the case of materials which do not fail in compression by a shattering fracture, the value obtained for compressive strength is an arbitrary value depending upon the degree of distortion that is regarded as indicating complete failure of the material. Back to Metal Glossary