Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Slump test'

Introduction: The slump test is used in athletes with suspected hamstring strains to determine the presence of neural mechanosensitivity. Other than cadaveric investigations, limited evidence exists regarding this test with respect to the neuromuscular system. Aim: To examine the effect of the slump test on local muscular and neural structures in the posterior thigh in athletes with hamstring injury. Methods: Electromyography and ultrasound were utilised to determine hamstring muscle activity onset and sciatic nerve excursion respectively. Predictability of the slump test with respect to hamstring injury occurrence was also investigated. Results: 96% (n=26) of therapists used the slump test diagnostically, whilst 63% utilised it as a treatment tool. The slump test was ineffective at predicting hamstring injury occurrence. In hamstring injured athletes (n=10) the slump test with cervical flexion, was found to activate biceps femoris significantly earlier (p<0.008) than semitendinosus, also pain and resistance, in the injured limb. Reduced sciatic nerve longitudinal excursion in the injured limb of two athletes with no radiological evidence of hamstring muscle damage was observed during the slump test with cervical flexion and ankle dorsi-flexion; a finding not replicated in the one athlete who had an actual hamstring muscle injury. Conclusions: Biceps femoris appears to act to protect the local neural system in the posterior thigh in hamstring injured athletes. Considering two athletes with posterior thigh pain had no muscle damage to the hamstring muscles, yet presented with reduced sciatic nerve excursion in the injured limb during the slump test, the possibility of biceps femoris acting to protect the nervous system is feasible. This thesis is novel in its demonstration of the protective nature of biceps femoris acting during the slump test, in addition to quantifying sciatic nerve excursion in athletes with posterior thigh pain.

Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008.
Certain non-Newtonian fluids exhibit a yield stress which can be measured with a variety of instruments varying from very sophisticated rotary and tube viscometers to hand-held slump cones and cylinders of various sizes. Accurate yield stress measurement is significant for process design and disposal operations for thickenend tailings. The slump value was first related to the yield stress by Murata (1984). Later, that work was corrected by Christensen (1991) for an error in the mathematical analysis. Slump, based on a circular cylindrical geometry was first investigated by Chandler (1986). These concepts led to the study by Pashias et al., (1996) that formed the basis for the current research. The Flow Process Research Centre (FPRC) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology developed a slump meter designed to lift the cone or cylinder vertically at controlled lifting speeds. In addition the simple hand-held cylinder which is an adaptation of slump cones which were originally developed by the concrete industry to determine the flowability of fresh concrete was also used. The vane technique was used as a control. Cones and cylinders made of stainless steel and PVC were fitted to the slump meter. The yield stresses of four non-Newtonian fluids at different concentrations were tested in four different configurations at different lift speeds to ascertain whether the measuring position, lift speed, slip, geometry, wall surface material, and stability has an effect on the value of yield stress measured. The effect of different predictive models was also ascertained.The cylinder, lump and cone models relating slump to yield stress was used in the dimensional analysis of the results. The objective of this work was to determine if the slump tests (cone, cylinder and the hand-held cylinder) would generate yield stress values comparable to those found using the vane technique. It was establised that there was no significant effect of lift speed, stability, geometry and wall surface material on the value of yield stress. The effect of measuring position on the value of yield stress calculated gave a difference of 25%. Using dimensional analysis, the lump model (Hallbom, 2005) more accurately predicts the material yield stress when using the hand-held cylinder as well as all the cone results (due to its specific geometry), and cylinder configurations, thus affirming the work of Clayton et al., 2003. It is concluded that, although the materials and concentrations tested induced errors within 40%, the hand-held cylinder shows promise as a reliable, quick and simple way of measuring the yield stress.

Orientador: Geraldo de Freitas Maciel
Resumo: O ensaio de abatimento de tronco de cone, desenvolvido inicialmente como ferramenta de controle de qualidade para avaliar a consistência de materiais cimentícios e com grande aplicação no setor da construção civil, tem sido cada vez mais empregado para análise de materiais de diferentes setores, seja da indústria do petróleo, da mineração e mesmo de alimentos. O interesse de diferentes setores industriais pela medida do abatimento deve-se a esta possibilitar uma ferramenta de controle de qualidade de materiais e ainda fornecer um mecanismo simples e fácil para a determinação de um importante parâmetro reológico, a tensão limite de escoamento. Nesse contexto, esta dissertação de mestrado apresenta o desenvolvimento de um aparato experimental capaz de realizar, de forma automatizada, o ensaio de abatimento de tronco de cone (comumente conhecido por slump test), desde o levantamento do cone de Abrams até a medição do abatimento. A partir do equipamento desenvolvido, três abordagens são realizadas e discutidas ao longo desta dissertação, tendo como materiais avaliados os géis de carbopol (fluido teste reologicamente representativo de lamas), lamas, argamassas e concretos. A primeira abordagem diz respeito a funcionalidade e operacionalidade do aparato automatizado de slump test. A segunda abordagem apresenta modelos empíricos de determinação da tensão limite de escoamento e viscosidade aparente, a partir da medida mais rigorosa de abatimento e outras informações fornecidas pelo a... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: The slump test was, initially, developed as a quality control tool for evaluating the consistency of cement-based materials, with many applications in civil engineering, it has been used for the analysis of materials in different sections of petrol industries, mining, and even food industries. The interest of these different industrial sections in the slump is due to its possible role as quality control tool of materials, providing an easy and simple mechanism for the determination of an important rheological parameter: the yield stress. In this context, this dissertation presents the development of an experimental apparatus capable of obtaining, in such automated way, the slump test, since the lifting of the Abrams cone to the obtaining of the slump. From the apparatus, three approaches are presented and discussed in this text, showing the results for the evaluation of materials such as carbopol gel (a rheological representative fluid of mud), mud, concrete and mortar. The first approach deals with the functionality of the automated apparatus for slump test. The second approach presents empiric models for the determination of yield stress and apparent viscosity, from the slump and further information obtained by the automated apparatus. The third and last approach presents the numerical simulation and validation of the slump test by the use of FLUENT software, considering the Non-Newtonian property (Herschel-Bulkley’s fluid) of the tested materials, and the trial of the mode... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Mestre

Una de les propietats principals del sistema nerviós és la mecanosensibilitat, la qual es pot alterar amb les repeticions del gest esportiu i/o amb les posicions mantingudes i/o els traumatismes de repetició realitzats durant la pràctica esportiva en l’adolescència . Tot i que la bibliografia no cita el nervi com a principal teixit afectat durant la pràctica esportiva, el nervi perifèric és l’estructura responsable de la innervació de la resta dels teixits connectius i si es lesiona pot donar igualment clínica de manera directa (per l’afectació del propi nervi) o indirecta (per la seva relació amb el sistema múscul-esquelètic). El propòsit és valorar si les mobilitzacions neurals realitzades després dels entrenaments en una població adolescent sana d’alt nivell esportiu poden ajudar a millorar la mecanosensibilitat del sistema nerviós. Es va realitzar un assaig clínic aleatoritzat. Es varen seleccionar 67 esportistes de tecnificació d’entre 14 i 17 anys i jugadors/es de Basquetbol, handbol i voleibol, becats per la seva federació. La mostra es va dividir en dos grups, un dels quals va realitzar un programa d’estiraments estàtics passius després de la pràctica esportiva i l’altre va realitzar els mateixos estiraments, però afegint al protocol un exercici de mobilització neural que va ser l’objecte d’estudi d’aquest treball. Es va utilitzar el Test de Slump per a valorar la mecanosensibilitat del sistema nerviós. Es va mesurar l’angle d’extensió del genoll, la intensitat del dolor amb l’escala visual analògica i la seva localització. La valoració es va realitzar abans i després de l’entrenament els dies 1, 30 i 60. Varen completar tot el programa un total de 48 esportistes, que formaren la mostra final. En l’anàlisi estadístic es va utilitzar la prova T-Student, per a grups independents, per tal de comparar les mitjanes entre els dos grups d’estudi i el test ANOVA de dos factors de mesures repetides per a veure les diferències en l’evolució dels dos grups d’estudi al llarg de les tres valoracions. La resposta neurodinàmica mitjana del Test de Slump obtinguda en la valoració inicial en aquesta població és de 20,25º± 7º pels nois i de 16,34º± 5º per les noies. Aquests resultats difereixen dels valors obtinguts en altres estudis realitzats en població adulta, que en el cas dels homes és de 6,6º± 4,7º i en les dones de 5,4º± 5,8º. Un cop realitzades les mobilitzacions neurals, els resultats mostren diferencies estadísticament significatives per l’angle d’extensió del genoll en els 3 factors: evolució del temps (p valor=0), entre grups d’estudi (p-valor=0,043) i en la interacció d’ambdós factors (p-valor=0,048). Aquestes diferències es van presentar entre la cinquena i la vuitena setmana. En les variables intensitat i localització del dolor no es troben diferències estadísticament significatives en cap de les valoracions. Per concloure es pot dir que un programa de mobilitzacions neurals de 2 mesos de durada realitzat en el post-esforç millora la mecanosensibilitat del sistema nerviós en joves esportistes d’elit.

Pour être valorisées en agriculture, les boues d'épuration doivent avoir un intérêt agronomique, présenter des risques limités et être faciles d'utilisation. Par facilité d'utilisation, on entend qu'une boue doit pouvoir être stockée, reprise, transportée et épandue facilement. Plus que la connaissance de la teneur en matière sèche, la viscosité et la composition physico-chimique sont nécessaires à l'optimisation des procédés de stockage et des techniques d'épandage. Cependant, la qualité variable des boues en sortie de station d'épuration rend hétérogènes les volumes mis en jeu dans le cadre de la valorisation agricole. Cette étude s'attache essentiellement à dégager les caractéristiques rhéologiques et physico-chimiques communes des boues résiduaires pâteuses. Dans cette optique, on montre qu'une boue résiduaire est constituée d'eau, de particules minérales et de polymères organiques parmi lesquels des polysaccharides, des protéines et des acides gras. Pendant le stockage, long de plusieurs semaines, la boue fermente. Les fibres glucidiques sont dégradés en acides gras volatils et la balance hydrophile/hydrophobe est modifiée, entraînant des évolutions dans le comportement mécanique. La boue résiduaire pâteuse est un fluide viscoélastique, linéaire aux faibles déformations. Aux déformations importantes, le comportement devient viscoélastique non-linéaire et la courbe d'écoulement est modélisée par un modèle de Herschel-Bulkley où le seuil de contrainte caractérise la transition entre le régime linéaire et le régime non-linéaire. Au cours du stockage, la fermentation entraîne une diminution des paramètres mécaniques. Le seuil de contrainte et les caractéristiques viscoélastiques suivent une loi puissance de même exposant en fonction du temps. On met en évidence le rôle des AGV dans cette fluidification. Malgré les évolutions chimiques, quel que soit l'âge d'une boue, il est néanmoins possible de matérialiser le comportement en écoulement par une courbe maîtresse dont les paramètres ne dépendent que du seuil de contraintes et des concentrations volumiques de matières organiques et minérales. On montre enfin qu'à partir de tests simples et rapides la courbe d'écoulement peut-être approchée sans avoir recours à un rhéomètre
Agricultural reused sewage sludge must have agronomic interest, be healthy safe and easily usable. This latest point means easily stored, picked, carried out and spread. To improve storage or spreading processes, the viscosity and the physical chemistry compounds are more important than the solid content. But, because of the versatile quality of dewatered sewage sludge, the stored quantities are heterogeneous. Here, we have only focused our study on the general characteristics of pasty biosolids. In this way, we show that sewage sludge is first composed of water, mineral particles and organic matter among which carbohydrates, proteins and fatty acids. During long storage, fermentation occurs. Fibrous sugars are debased into volatil fatty acids and the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio is modified. This changes induces mechanical behaviour evolutions. At low shear strain, pasty biosolid is first a linear viscoelastic fluid. Then, for higher shear strain, the behaviour becomes non linear viscoelastic. The flow curve is best fitted by a Herschel-Bulkley model for which the yield stress is the frontier between linear and non linear areas. During storage, rheological characteristics decrease because of the fermentation. Yield stress and viscoelastic parameters follow a power law model with the same power law index. We show that the volatil fatty acids production causes a loss of viscosity. Despite of physical chemistry movements, it remains possible to draw a master curve which represents the flow behaviour for a sludge at any age. The parameters of the flow curve depend only on the yield stress and the organic and mineral concentrations. At the end, we show that simple methods such as slump test and heat loss give a good approximation of the flow curve without needing a rheometer

This work is a research on the topic of reactive nanoparticles and their agitation into the solder paste, which it also describes. It describes in detail the properties of each solder alloys. It explains the creation of intermetallic layers in the soldering process and examines their structure. It also focuses on the evaluation and methodology of testing the properties of solder pastes. In the practical part, individual tests are performed with PF606 and PF610 solder paste.

Fresh properties of mortars are important factors in altering the performance of self compacting concrete (SCC). Measurement of the rheological properties of the fine mortar part of concrete is generally used in the mix design of SCC. It can be stated that SCC rheology can be optimized if the fine mortar part of concrete is designed properly. However, measurement of the rheological properties is often impractical due to the need for complex equipment. Therefore, more practical methods of assessing mortar workability are often preferred. In this study, four mineral admixtures, three superplasticizers (SP) and two viscosity modifying admixtures (VMA) were used to prepare self compacting mortar (SCM). The mineral admixtures included fly-ash, brick powder, limestone powder, and kaolinite. Two of the SPs were polycarboxylate based and another one was melamine formaldehyde based. One of the viscosity modifying admixtures was based on an aqueous dispersion of microscopic silica and the other one was based on high molecular weight hydroxylated polymer. Within the scope of the experimental program, 43 mixes of SCM were prepared from different materials with keeping the amount of mixing water constant. Workability of the fresh mortar were determined using V - funnel and slump flow tests. The setting time of the mortars, were also determined. The hardened properties that were determined included the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and the strength which was determined at 7, 28, and 56 days. It was concluded that among the mineral admixtures used, only fly-ash and limestone powder increased the workability of the mixes. The two polycarboxylate based SPs yield approximately the same workability and the melamine formaldehyde based SP was not as effective as the other two.

Att gjuta med betong under vatten är utmanande, och det ställs höga krav på både betongen och utförandet för att resultatet ska bli bra. Peab Anläggning har uppmärksammat en del problem med denna typ av gjutningar och ville därför tydliggöra problematiken för att öka chansen för bra resultat vid framtida undervattensgjutningar. Problemen bestod dels av gjutskador på den färdiga betongkonstruktionen, och dels av problem med betongen under gjutningens gång i form av skum och separation. Examensarbetet sammanställer svårigheterna med undervattensgjutning med självkompakterande betong (SKB) och undersöker vilka faktorer som påverkar det färdiga gjutresultatet. Detta har gjorts genom en litteraturstudie, intervjuer med kunniga personer inom ämnet samt besök på arbetsplatser där undervattensgjutningar utförts. De svårigheter som identifierats delas in under fyra huvudrubriker; planering inför gjutning, betong, form samt utförande. Planeringen inför gjutningen är mycket viktig men svår då många faktorer måste tas hänsyn till, såsom väder och trafik. För att minimera risken för oönskade gjutuppehåll krävs det även en förberedande plan med lösningar på problem som kan uppstå under gjutdagen. Svårigheten med färsk betong är att det är ett levande och därmed oförutsägbart material. Det är nödvändigt att betongen har god sammanhållning så att betongens cementpasta inte vaskas ut i vattnet. Det är även viktigt att betongen har rätt konsistens för att kunna omsluta all armering och fylla ut hela formen. Betongen testas när den kommer till arbetsplatsen. Bland annat kontrolleras betongens lufthalt samt homogenitet och flytbarhet, det senare med hjälp av flytsättmått. Det är viktigt att ta hänsyn till dessa kontroller och att ta beslutet att inte gjuta med dålig betong. Det ställs även höga krav på formen vid undervattensgjutningar. Den måste vara helt tät och byggas på rätt sätt så att skum och bottenslam kan rinna ut ur formen. En svårighet är att dykarna behöver utföra en del av formbyggandet under vattenytan. Utförandet är en stor utmaning, då arbetsmomentet är komplicerat och man gjuter i blindo. Metoden går ut på att betong pumpas ner under vattenytan genom ett betongrör med en undervattensventil. Under gjutningens gång är det viktigt att rörets mynning hela tiden är under betongytan och att gjutröret hålls vertikalt. Slutligen är det värt att nämna att litteraturen som finns idag om undervattensgjutningar är bristfällig, något som gör det svårt att lära sig om ämnet. De förslag på lösningar som grundas på slutsatsen är att all betong som kommer till arbetsplatsen bör testas, trots att det inte alltid är ett krav. Detta så att ett beslut kan tas kring varje enskilt betonglass om betongen är godkänd att gjuta med. För att öka chansen att betongen har önskade egenskaper är det viktigt att betongbilen som levererar betongen till arbetsplatsen är ren och inte innehåller rester av annan betong. Det krävs under hela arbetet en god kommunikation mellan både pumpmaskinist, dykare och arbetsledning för att de gemensamt ska kunna lösa eventuella problem som uppstår. Slutligen rekommenderas att ta hjälp av varandra och dra nytta av den kompetens och erfarenhet som finns inom företaget.
Casting with concrete under water is challenging, and requires high standards on both the concrete and the work practice to achieve good results. Peab noticed problems with this type of casting, and wanted to clarify the difficulties to increase the chance of good results with future underwater castings. The problems were injuries on the finished concrete structure and troubles with the concrete during casting such as foam and separation in the concrete. This paper compiles the difficulties with underwater casting with self-consolidating concrete (SCC) and investigates the factors that affect the final result. This has been done through interviews with experienced people, a literature review and visits to construction site that performed underwater casting. This paper identifies four main issues; pre-casting planning, concrete quality, form and work procedure. The planning is very important but difficult, as many factors need to be considered, such as weather, land traffic and boat traffic. In order to minimize the risk of unwanted breaks during casting, it is good to have a preparatory plan with solutions to problems that may occur. The difficulty with concrete is that it's a living, and thus unpredictable, material. It is very important that the concrete has good cohesion so that the concrete's cement paste is not washed out in the water. It is also necessary that the concrete has good consistency to ensure it will enclose all reinforcement and fill in the entire form. The concrete is tested when it arrives to the construction site. Among other things, the air content as well as homogeneity and flowability are controlled, the latter controlled by a slump flow test. It is important to take these controls into consideration, and to make the decision not to cast with bad concrete. The requirements on the form used during underwater casting are high. It must be completely dense and properly constructed so that foam and sludge can flow out of the form. One difficulty is that the divers sometimes need to build parts of the form under the water. The work practice is challenging as it's complicated and done blindly. The used method is to pump concrete under the water surface through a concrete pipe with an underwater valve. During the casting process, the mouth of the pipe must always be below the concrete surface and the casting tube should be kept vertically. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the literature available today about underwater casting is inadequate, which makes it difficult to learn about the subject. The suggested solutions presented in the report are that all concrete coming to the construction site should be tested, even though it is not always a requirement. Thus, the decision of whether the concrete had a high enough quality for casting would be made for each delivery. In order to increase the chances of the concrete having desired properties, it is important that the truck delivering concrete to the construction site is clean and does not contain residues of a different concrete. Throughout the work, a good communication between pump operator, diver and management is needed to jointly solve problems. At last, it is recommended to help each other and take advantage of the expertise and experience within the company.

When subjected to a combination of moment and shear force, a reinforced concrete (RC) beam with either little or no transverse reinforcement can fail in shear before reaching its full flexural strength. This type of failure is sudden in nature and usually disastrous because it does not give sufficient warning prior to collapse. To prevent this type of shear failure, reinforced concrete beams are traditionally reinforced with stirrups. However, the use of stirrups is not always cost effective since it increases labor costs, and can make casting concrete difficult in situations where closely-spaced stirrups are required. The use of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) could be considered as a potential alternative to the use of traditional shear reinforcement. Concrete is very weak and brittle in tension, SFRC transforms this behaviour and improves the diagonal tension capacity of concrete and thus can result in significant enhancements in shear capacity. However, one of the drawbacks associated with SFRC is that the addition of fibers to a regular concrete mix can cause problems in workability. The use of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is an innovative solution to this problem and can result in improved workability when fibers are added to the mix. The thesis presents the experimental results from tests on twelve slender self-consolidating fiber reinforced concrete (SCFRC) beams tested under four-point loading. The results demonstrate the combined use of SCC and steel fibers can improve the shear resistance of reinforced concrete beams, enhance crack control and can promote flexural ductility. Despite extensive research, there is a lack of accurate and reliable design guidelines for the use of SFRC in beams. This study presents a rational model which can accurately predict the shear resistance of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams. The thesis also proposes a safe and reliable equation which can be used for the shear design of SFRC beams.

Master‘s thesis focuses on concrete combined with polypropylen fibres produced commercially, fibres without surface modifications and fibres modificated by plasma. Most important topic of the thesis is experimental verification of influence of plasma modificated fibres on attributes of fresh concrete and physical-mechanical attributes of solidified concrete. Based on the results of the tests perfomed on examin units compares results and anylyses applicability of different fibre surface modifications.

博士
國立中興大學
土木工程學系
91
Most of the workability related test methods, such as slump test, compacting factor test, Vebe time, Remolding test, Ball Penetration, U-test, and V-funnel test, are all designed to give static (time independent) measurements for the fresh concrete. These test methods cannot truly reflect the flowing process of fresh concrete. As for the slump test, a direct application of slump value to estimate the flow characteristics of fresh concrete is technically disputable. For instance, two different concrete mixes subjected to the standard slump test may produce an identical slump (assuming 100 mm) in different settle times (assuming 2 and 4 seconds respectively). These assumptions as shown in the parentheses are reasonable because concrete mixes for the two samples could be made with different water-cement ratio, aggregate type/size distributions, admixture, mixing time, and so forth. Conceivably the settle time should be considered in the slump test. It can be thus modified to measure time dependent variables such as the flow velocity and acceleration of fresh concrete. This research therefore is firstly to develop a digitized slump test system to produce time-dependent data. The system includes a hardware system equipped with the newly available digital camera and a micro laser sensor, and software to process and convert the obtained images into digitized flow dynamic properties of the test samples. The whole flowing process of fresh concrete during slump test can be recorded by the proposed digitized slump test system and the characteristics of slump-flow can be quantified via the image-processing techniques. The slump vs. time curve and the slump-flow vs. time curve can be obtained and converted to velocity and acceleration. The digitized slump test of paste, mortar, normal concrete, and high-performance concrete were carried out to measure their slumping behavior. And meanwhile, the rheological property of each sample was also measured. Test results show that when the water/cement ratio of paste sample increased, the slump value and slump-flow value of paste samples become larger, indicating to have better flowability. In addition, the slump value and slump-flow value of mortar samples become smaller as fine aggregate volume increased. The flow velocity and flow acceleration also become slower. The rheological tests of high-performance concrete were performed by TRM rheometer. The measured yield stresses of high-performance concrete vary from 80 Pa to 300 Pa, and the plastic viscosities vary from 8 Pa.s to 35 Pa.s. The slumping behavior of every HPC sample slumps down 200 mm when the slump cone lifted from the concrete sample in the first one second. The whole slumping process of sample takes about 3 seconds. Besides, the slump-flow value of every HPC sample spreads 400 mm at the first one second and then slow down to cease flowing. The final slump-flow values vary from 400 mm to 800 mm. The whole slumping process takes about 15 seconds for HPC of 0.3 water/binder ratio, 10 seconds for HPC of 0.4 water/binder ratio, and 3 seconds for HPC of 0.5 water/binder ratio. When the water/binder ratio of HPC is lower, the mortar shows more viscous and results in better flowability. The rheological parameters of HPC can be derived from the slump, slump-flow, and time obtained by digitized slump test. The relationship shows good reliability since the error between theoretical value and measurements is under 10%. The innovative digitized slump test system can truly reflect the flowing property of fresh concrete and give time dependent measurements such as flow velocity and flow acceleration. The spin-off benefits of the high tech can help the concrete technology advance as envisioned.

This study investigated the utility of using a neurodynamic test, the Slump test by itself and with qualifiers to identify neuropathic pain (NeP). The study utilized a control group and a low back pain group. The low back pain group was pre-diagnosed as NeP or non neuropathic pain (NNP) by an experienced clinician using an accepted diagnostic examination. A slump test was performed recording knee ROM, pain location and verbal pain descriptors followed by Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). Various versions of the slump test were compared to the pre test diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios were calculated. The conventional slump test was shown to be a sensitive and moderately specific screening test for NeP. Including whether pain extended below the knee dramatically increased specificity. QST revealed localized cold sensation hyposensitivity, widespread cold pain hyposensitivity and suggestions of increased thresholds of pressure pain levels.

碩士
國立陽明大學
物理治療暨輔助科技學系
99
Background and purpose: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common problem among adolescents and adults, characterized by retropatellar pain or peripatellar pain. The neurodynamic tests are designed to assess the mechanical sensitivity of the nervous system. One of the neurodynamic tests, femoral slump test, is the technique of choice in examination of possible neural contribution to anterior knee pain. However, no literature discussed the use of the femoral slump test in patients with PFPS. The purpose of this study is to compare the responses of the femoral slump test including the change in range of motion and level of discomfort between subjects with PFPS and healthy participants. Methods: This study was an observational, cross-sectional design. Thirty patients with PFPS (27 females; 3 males) and thirty gender-, age- and dominant leg-matched control participants were recruited. The subjects received the femoral slump test in sidelying position with full knee flexion and slump position, and then hip were be pushed to extension until onset of symptoms. A goniometer, a body chart and a visual analog scale (VAS) anchor was used to record hip extension angle, and the location and intensity of pain/ discomfort during the femoral slump test. Neck extension was used as structure differential maneuver. Reproduction of symptoms, which were alleviated by neck extension, was interpreted as a positive test. Differences in hip extension angle and pain intensity between groups were examined using two-way repeated measures ANCOVA. The level of significance is set at α= 0.05. Results: Subjects with PFPS had smaller hip extension angle than healthy participants (PFPS group: -3.61° ± 5.27°, control group: 0.59° ± 6.13°, p=0.006 ). Eight patients of PFPS showed positive findings of femoral slump test. The patients with positive femoral slump test findings had smaller hip extension angle (-5.71° ± 4.46°) than healthy participants (p=0.020) and similar hip extension angle compared with those with negative femoral slump test findings (-2.86° ± 5.43°, p>0.05). The patients who show negative femoral slump test findings had similar hip extension angle compared with healthy participants (p>0.05). There were two-thirds subjects showed the pain during the femoral slump test were alleviated by neck extension. Conclusion: The differences in hip extension between patients with PFPS and healthy participants in the femoral slump test suggested heightened mechanosensitivity in the patients with PFPS and especially in the patients who show positive femoral slump test finding. In the future, we should consider the femoral slump test as a clinical examination for patients of PFPS with heightened mechanosensitivity.

碩士
國立成功大學
水利及海洋工程學系
104
This study investigated the relationships of the rheological parameters with respect to slump parameters for the materials of sediment-mixture slurry. Rheological parameters of sediment-mixture slurry were measured from laboratory experiments using the DV-III horizontal rotary rheometer. Slump parameters were measured from slump test through slump cone of the national standard of CNS down scaling mold (i.e., top diameter of 5 cm, the bottom diameter 10 cm, height 15 cm ). Sediment materials used in this study are kaolin soil and reservoir sedimentation with median diameters of 0.0048 mm and 0.0036 mm, respectively. Here we proportioned five sediment volume concentration of kaolin soil and reservoir sedimentation with 25%, 27.5%, 30%, 32.5% and 35% for rheological and slump experiments. Based on the, we also added coarse particles (with mean diameter of 1 mm) into those above mentioned slurry samplings that were further proportioned into volume concentration of 30%, 40.5%, 44%, 47.5% and 51% of sediment-mixture slurries to characterize the effect of coarse particles on its corresponding rheological and slump properties. Rheological experimental results show that mud slurries and sediment-mixture slurries used in this study can be attributed as the Bingham fluid under a low shear rate. Rheological parameters (i.e., yield stress and viscosity) are affected by the concentration of slurry and coarse particles, indicating that the higher the concentration, the greater the value of the rheological parameters. On the other hand, slump test show that the slump diameters and slump heights of mud slurries decrease with increase in its corresponding volume concentration but coarse particles can only significantly affect slump diameters and slump heights of slurries when their volume concentration were higher than a threshold. Also, we established linear relationships between the parameters of rheology and slump for the mud slurries with volume concentration of 25% to 35% and sediment-mixture slurries with volume concentration of 15% to 30%, showing the determined coefficient r2 averages 0.91. These patterns indicates that slump parameters of sediment materials (i.e, slump diameters and slump heights) can be used to evaluate its corresponding rheological parameters.

碩士
國立陽明大學
物理治療暨輔助科技學系
98
Background and Purpose: Femoral slump test is a neurodynamic testing, which could be used for assessing the femoral nerve mechanosensitivity in patients with anterior knee pain. However, the normal neurodynamic responses of the femoral slump test and its use in assessing neural structures involvement in anterior knee pain have not been studied before. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether change of nerve tension altered the neurodynamic responses of the femoral slump test including the change in range of motion and level of discomfort, and to assess the changes of pain intensity and size when femoral slump test was used to evaluate an experimentally induced anterior knee pain. Methods: We included thirty-two asymptomatic subjects (16 males; 16 females) for the neurodynamic response study, and twelve asymptomatic subjects (6 males; 6 females) for the experimental pain study. The experiment was conducted in the sidelying position with full knee flexion. The neurodynamic responses were assessed by pushing the subject’s thigh into hip extension until the onset of pain and recorded as the hip extension range of motion (ROM). We measured these responses in two different trunk positions (slump/neutral) with both neutral and extended cervical positions. For the experimental pain study, the examiner pushed the subject’s thigh into hip extension and injected a single bolus of 0.25ml of hypertonic saline solution (5% NaCl) into medial infrapatellar fat pad to induce an experimental anterior knee pain of non-neural tissue nature. Three cycles of neck flexion and extension were performed randomly in order to alter the nerve tension and the change of pain size and intensity was recorded. Results and discussion: We found that the decrease of nerve tension significantly increased hip extension ROM (p&lt;0.001) and lowered the pain intensity over the thigh (p&lt;0.001). In the experimental anterior knee pain model, the change of the nerve tension in femoral slump test did not alter the pain intensity and size (p>0.05), and 75-83% cases showed no change in pain during the neck movements. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the neurodynamic responses including the changes in hip ROM and thigh discomfort of the femoral slump test in asymptomatic subjects. The assessment of experimentally induced anterior knee pain using femoral slump test produced correct responses in over 75% subjects. These findings served as good basic knowledge for using the femoral slump test in evaluating patients with anterior knee pain.

Mestrado em Treino de Alto Rendimento
Cadavers and in vivo studies have shown that cervical, thoracic and ankle movements cause changes in position and tension of peripheral nervous system (PNS). Howerver, it is not clear if the head, trunk, and foot position affects torque-angle response of knee joint. The aim of this study was to compare the knee passive extension torque-angle response at different combinations of foot, trunk, and head testing position. (...)
Estudos realizados em cadáveres e in vivo têm demonstrado que os movimentos da coluna cervical, torácica e tibiotársica provocam variações de posição e de tensão ao nível do sistema nervoso periférico (SNP). Contudo, não é claro se o posicionamento da cabeça, tronco e pé afecta a relação "momento-ângulo" do joelho. O objectivo deste estudo foi comparar a relação "momento-ângulo" durante a extensão passiva do joelho (EPJ) em testes com diferentes combinações do pé, tronco e cabeça. (...)

碩士
國立中興大學
土木工程學系
91
Traditional concrete slump test can only obtain static test value. The single measurement can’t completely describe flowing behavior of high flowability concrete, such as HPC、SCC、TAICON. The digitized slump test system which considered time factor in the test is applied to measure the flowing behavior of high flowability concrete in this research. The mixture proportions of high flowability concrete include three water/binder ratios and five different coarse aggregate quantities, in which high flowability concrete of 0.3 water/binder ratio belongs to high strength HPC; 0.4 water/binder ratio series are close to SCC; 0.5 water/binder ratio series conform to TAICON demand. All mixtures were also carried out to proceed with digitized slump test, V-funnel test, and box test. Test results show that the slump and slump-flow value of high flowability concrete increase as the water/binder ratio decreases. As for digitized slump test, all high flowability concretes slump down 200 mm when the slump cone lifted from the concrete sample within the first one second. The whole slumping process of sample takes about 3 seconds. Besides, the slump-flow value of every high flowability concrete sample spreads 400 mm within the first one second and then slow down to cease flowing. The final slump-flow values vary from 400 mm to 800 mm. As for V-funnel test and box test, the average flowing velocity and filled height of 0.3 and 0.4 water/binder ratio series decrease with the increase of coarse aggregate volume, while for the 0.5 water/binder ratio series, increasing coarse aggregate volume does not affect the result of average flowing velocity and filled height.

碩士
國立成功大學
自然災害減災及管理國際碩士學位學程
107
Recently, debris flow hazards are the problem for many countries in the world. Awareness of danger of debris flow and their deposits on land surface and under water is essential. This topic aims to measure the flow behaviour of debris mixtures under different conditions using slump tests. Two groups of sediment samples with different sizes are employed to conduct experiments in three different conditions, namely, dry, wetted and underwater. The slump test is the primary equipment to measure the slump height and spreading diameter of sediment materials. Each experiment is repeated three times to minimize the errors. The results show that the slump behaviour is influenced mainly by factors such as particle size, size distribution and test condition. The result of experiment showed that the size of sediment greatly affected slump behavior. In particular, the larger size sediments leads to a higher spreading diameter and the slump height. We also know that, in the distribution of the sediment after sliding, the largest size sediment layer stay on outer ring position, next is the smaller size in the middle and the last one is the smallest at the top of the sediment shape. However, comparing the slump behavior of sediment in dry and water conditions, shows that sediment in dry condition has greater slump height and slump diameter, than sediment in underwater condition because of the existence of dragging effect by water on sediment.