The most basic technique for compressing of wood is to to fit two lengths of stiff material such as structural steel on either side of the wood you wish to compress, tighten a number of vices along its length, and leave it for 24 hours minimum. You can run the same procedure, but with the wood held at various temperatures, using an oven or kiln. Change the pressure, temperature, and length of the compression period for all of the following experiments to explore how these factors influence the properties of the wood.
Cut sections of wood of identical dimensions, and subject all but one of them to a variety of compression treatments at different temperatures, pressures, and times of compression. Once compression is complete on each section, position each piece between two benches and load with weights in the center of the piece until the wood breaks under the strain. Start with the uncompressed "control" piece of wood. Compare how the variety of treatments influences the strength of the wood. Compression will generally strengthen the wood to a point where significant weight will be required to break it compared to the uncompressed wood.
Again prepare a variety of pieces of wood, reserving a control piece that is uncompressed. This time create two pieces for each variance in compression conditions in order to investigate the elasticity of the wood in several ways. Clamp a third of the length of the first set of compressed wood into place, then investigate the distance the other end of the wood can be bent before failure occurs and the wood snaps. Using the second set of compressed wood, use a Newton meter to measure the force required to pull the wood to different angles of curvature from straight. Measure the curvature the wood after the pressure is released, noting if it returns to its original shape or retains a curve. Run successive tests to see if the elasticity decreases with repeated applications of curvature.
Shave differently-treated sections of wood into uniform shavings. Position weighed quantities of wood under measured beakers of water and light each pile of wood with a blow torch. Measure how much the burning wood heats the water in intervals of one minute. Investigate which burns for the longest and which raises the temperature by the total maximum quantity.