Which stress type refers to pushing or compressing a material?

Compressive stress is defined as the type of stress that occurs when a material is subjected to a pushing or compressing force. This force acts to reduce the volume or length of the material, effectively squeezing it together. Compressive stress is critical in various engineering and structural applications, such as in columns and beams, where materials must withstand loads that push them inward.

In practical terms, understanding compressive stress is essential because it helps engineers and architects calculate how much load a structure can safely handle without failing. This type of stress is particularly important in the design of many construction elements, ensuring they can endure the forces from their own weight and external loads without buckling or collapsing.

The other types of stress, such as tensile, shear, and bending stress, involve different forces and effects on materials. Tensile stress refers to forces that pull or stretch a material; shear stress involves forces that cause layers of a material to slide past one another; while bending stress is the result of forces that cause a material to bend. Each type of stress plays a distinct role in material behavior under different conditions, but for the context of the question, compressive stress is specifically associated with pushing or compressing actions.