Short-term memory effects of an auditory biofeedback on isometric force control: Is there a differential effect as a function of transition trials?

The aim of the present study was to investigate memory effects, force accuracy, and variability during constant isometric force at different force levels, using auditory biofeedback. Two types of transition trials were used: a biofeedback-no biofeedback transition trial and a no biofeedback-biofeedback transition trial. The auditory biofeedback produced a low- or high-pitched sound when participants produced an isometric force lower or higher than required, respectively. To achieve this goal, 16 participants were asked to produce and maintain two different isometric forces (30$\pm$5% and 90N$\pm$5%) during 25s. Constant error and standard deviation of the isometric force were calculated. While accuracy and variability of the isometric force varied according to the transition trial, a drift of the force appeared in the no biofeedback condition. This result suggested that the degradation of information about force output in the no biofeedback condition was provided by a leaky memory buffer which was mainly dependent on the sense of effort. Because this drift remained constant whatever the transition used, this memory buffer seemed to be independent of short-term memory processes.Comment: Human Movement Science (2011) epub ahead of prin

Thermo-mechanical behaviour of clay-structure interface

International audienceThe mechanical behaviour of the soil-structure interface plays a major role in the shear characteristics and bearing capacity of foundations. In thermo-active structures, due to non-isothermal conditions, the interface behaviour becomes more complex. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of temperature variations on the mechanical behaviour of soils and soil-structure interface. Constant normal load (CNL) and constant normal stiffness (CNS) tests were performed on soil and soil-structure interface in a direct shear device at temperatures of 5, 22 and 60 o C. Kaolin clay was used as proxy for clayey soils. The results showed that, in clay samples the temperature increase, increased the cohesion and consequently the shear strength, due to thermal contraction during heating. The temperature rise had less impact on the shear strength in the case of the clay-structure interface than in the clay samples. The adhesion of the clay-structure interface, is less than the cohesion of the clay samples

Comportement thermo-mécanique de l'interface sable-structure

International audienceLe comportement mécanique de l'interface sol-structure est d'une grande importance en raison du rôle de l'interface dans la résistance due au frottement et la capacité portante des structures. Dans les structures thermo-actives, du fait de la variation de la température, le comportement de l'interface devient plus complexe. L'objectif de ce travail est d'étudier l'effet des variations de température sur le comportement mécanique de l'interface sable-structure. Des essais avec des conditions de charge normale constante (CNL) et de rigidité normale constante (CNS) ont été réalisés dans une boîte de cisaillement direct à différentes températures, 22 et 60 °C sur des éprouvettes sable-sable et sable-structure. Le sable de Fontainebleau a été utilisé. Les résultats ont montré que les variations thermiques appliquées ont un effet négligeable sur la résistance au cisaillement des interfaces sable-sable et sable-structure dans les conditions CNL et CNS et que le comportement du sable peut être considéré comme étant indépendant de la température.The mechanical behaviour of the soil-structure interface plays a major role in the shear characteristics and bearing capacity of foundations. In thermo-active structures, due to non-isothermal conditions, the interface behaviour becomes more complex. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of temperature variations on the mechanical behaviour of soils and sand-structure interface. Constant normal load (CNL) and constant normal stiffness (CNS) tests were performed on sand and sand-structure interface in a direct shear device at temperatures of 22 and 60 °C. Fontainebleau sand was used. The results showed that the applied thermal variations have a negligible effect on the shear strength of the sand and sand-structure interface under CNL and CNS conditions, and the sand and sand-structure interface behaviour could be considered thermally independent

Hydromechanical behaviour of a compacted swelling soil over a wide suction range

International audienc

Influence de sollicitations hydriques et mécaniques complexes sur le comportement d'un sol gonflant compacté

International audienceThe main objective of the paper is to present a study on compacted expansive soil strains generated by complex hydric or mechanical loadings and their consequences on tested soil compressibility. In the first part of the paper, the suction controlled testing devices are described (osmotic and salt solutions methods). All the presented tests were performed in the range of suctions comprised between 0 and 40 MPa. The consequences of the strains induced by wetting as a function of the applied mechanical stress were analyzed. The results showed that, under these conditions, strain depends on the followed hydraulic path whereas the slope of the plastic compression line λ(s) was only affected by the suction applied during themechanical loading. The second test series demonstrated that the stress path influenced both deformation and slope λ(s) if suction higher than the initial sample suction was imposed during the test. As a conclusion, it could be stated that the slope λ(s) depends on the suction applied during a mechanical loading and on the maximum suction experienced by an expansive material during its past “history”.L’objectif de cet article est de présenter une étude sur les déformations d’un sol gonflant provoquées par des sollicitations hydriques et/ou mécaniques complexes ainsi que leurs conséquences sur sa compressibilité notamment. Dans la première partie de l’article, les dispositifs expérimentaux à succion contrôlée employés (méthodes osmotique et solutions salines) pour conduire l’ensemble des essais sont décrits brièvement. Les essais ont été réalisés dans la gamme des succions comprises entre 0 et 40 MPa. Les conséquences d’une sollicitation hydrique monotone (humidification) conduite sous différentes contraintes ont d’abord été caractérisées. Il est apparu que dans ces conditions d’essai, les déformations dépendent du chemin de contrainte contrairement à la pente de compression plastique λ(s) qui ne dépend que de la succion imposée durant le chargement mécanique. Une deuxième série d’essais a permis de montrer l’influence du chemin de contrainte sur les déformations ainsique la pente λ(s) si une succion supérieure à la succion initiale des éprouvettes est imposée au cours de l’essai (dessiccation). En conclusion, la valeur de la pente λ(s) dépend de la succion sous laquelle est effectué le chargement mécanique mais aussi de la plus grande succion connue par le matériau au cours de son « histoire »

Effet d'un traitement non traditionnel acide sur le comportement mécanique de trois limons

L'étude porte sur le comportement de trois limons traités avec un produit acide contenant du limonène sulfonaté. Les effets du traitement sur les propriétés mécaniques (compactage et résistance à la compression simple) ainsi que sur les caractéristiques d'identification (valeur au bleu de méthylène, pH, granulométrie) sont évaluées dans l'objectif de définir les applications de ce type de traitement en terrassement

Effets d'une suppl\'eance perceptive visuelle, auditive et tactile sur le contr\^ole des pressions fessi\`eres en position assise

This article presents a study on different informative modalities of a perceptual supplementation device aiming at reducing overpressure at the buttock area. Visual, audio and tactile modalities are analysed and compared with a non-biofeedback session. In conclusion, modalities have a positive and equal effect, but they are not equally judged in term of comfort and disturbance with some other activitie

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CALCAREOUS FLY ASH STABILIZED SOIL

International audienceConstruction of any type of structure on clayey ground could be problematic due to the high swelling potential and/or low strength characteristics of the soil. This can lead to low stability or differential settlement of the ground. Many soil stabilization techniques have been proposed to prevent the uneven settlement and failure of the soil. Stabilization of soil with class C fly ash offers many advantages such as improving engineering characteristics, being cost-effective and being environmentally friendly. Class C fly ash chemically reacts with clay which results in a more durable and stronger soil. It has been shown by various researchers that fly ash-stabilized soil is typically stiff and strong even though there is no available standard or guidelines for the use of fly ash in construction industry. This paper presents the results from a program of experimental research on stabilization of a fine-grained soil with fly ash. Laboratory experiments, including Atterberg limits, compaction, uniaxial, and consolidation tests, were conducted on samples of a clay soil with different percentages of fly ash. The results show that adding fly ash decreased the plasticity index, increased compressive strength, and decreased the swelling and compressibility index. The maximum dry density increased and optimum moisture content decreased with addition of over 5 % fly ash