In this study, total strain was measured by LVDTs and local strains on the surface of specimens were measured by strain gauges. And axi-symmetrically elastoplastic FEM analyses was carried out for cylindrical specimens. Considering the influence of the restraint induced by the loading platen, in the case of H/D=1, the strain distribution on the side of a specimen is obviously affected by the condition of platen contact. Furthermore, it is clear that the larger H/D ratio becomes, the smaller the influence to the strain distribution is. For the smooth contact condition, the strain on the side is not influenced by the stiffness of the specimen, the shape and the scale effect, the strain distribution coincides with the nominal total strain. Whereas, in the case of rough contact condition, the strain distribution is remarkably affected. It is made clear that strain responses of hard rock specimens may more sensitive than these of soft rock specimens as a results of interaction between loading platens and specimen and the uniaxial strength of specimens may strongly depends on this interaction and stress-strain relation is affected by the contact condition.