COMPRESSION TEST

 

STEEL ROD - 50 LBS OVER 27/16" DIAMETER OF 2.237 SQ. IN. SURFACE AREA

 

                        1" 8 lb. Nominal:                              With mat:     

            1.         11/32"             =   22/64"                                9/32"   =   18/64"

            2.         23/64" =   23/64"                                19/64" =   19/64"

            3.         23/64" =   23/64"                                17/64" =   17/64"

            4.         25/64" =   25/64"                                5/16"   =   20/64"

            5.         13/32" =   26/64"                                21/64" =   21/64"

                        Average:  24/64" or 3/8"                  Average:  19/64"

 

STEEL ROD - 50 LBS OF 27/16" DIAMETER ON  A 3"x4" BLOCK

FOR 12 SQ. IN. SURFACE AREA

 

Using a 50 lb steel rod of 27/16" diameter and 2.237 sq. in. of surface area gave us much more measurable compression differences to work with; however, on 2" tests and 100 lbs tests on 1", a block 3"x4" for a total surface of 12 square inches had to be used, as the 2.237 square inch surface of the end of the rod ripped through the mat and destroyed and broke down the core material.  Increasing the square inches of surface gave us a more accurate compressive strength test.

 

                        2" 8 lb. Nominal:                              With mat:                 

            1.         3/16"   =   3/16"                                  3/16"   =   12/64"       

            2.         1/4"     =   4/16"                                  1/8"     =   8/64"

            3.         1/4"     =   4/16"                                  7/32"   =   14/64"       

            4.         5/16"   =   5/16"                                  1/8"     =   8/64"         

            5.         1/4"     =   4/16"                                  5/32"   =   10/64"       

                        Average:  4/16" or 1/4"                    Average:  10/64" or 5/32"

 

50 LBS ON 12 SQ. IN. ACHIEVED 12.5% COMPRESSION ON 2" AND 10% COMPRESSION ON 1" WITHOUT MAT.   THESE TABLES SHOW LBS OF COMPRESSION NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE 12.5% COMPRESSION WITH MAT.

 

                        1" 8 lb Nominal                                             2" 8 lb Nominal

            1.         90 lbs                                                              90.5 lbs

            2.         100 lbs                                                                        105 lbs

            3.         100 lbs                                                                        90 lbs

            4.         105 lbs                                                                        105 lbs

            5.         90 lbs                                                              100 lbs

                        Average:  99 lbs                                             Average:  98 lbs

 

CONCLUSION: THE FIBERGLAS MAT INCREASES THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OVER THAT OF THE MINERAL WOOL BOARD ALONE BY 98% IN THE 1" TEST AND 96% IN THE 2" TEST.