Exploring the mechanical properties of soft tissues under compressive loading is crucial for understanding their role in automobile incidents. Soft tissues, which serve as cushions or padding between bone and vehicle interiors, significantly influence contact duration and forces, thereby altering incident kinematics and injury risk assessment. In this investigation, muscle and soft connective tissues from post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) forearms were excised and subjected to compression and indentation testing methods at various rates and strains. Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs) upper extremity foam and vinyl foam composite material surrogate tissues underwent similar testing for comparison. High impact rates simulating those in high-speed car collisions were achieved using a custom-built drop tower. The results revealed substantial differences in stiffness between soft tissues and ATD materials across most loading rates and strains, although some exceptions were noted at higher rates and strains. Indentation and modified Zener models were used to quantify material parameters. The indentation model could characterize human muscle, soft connective tissues and ATD vinyl foam composites, but fell short with ATD foam materials. The Zener model effectively derived material parameters for the tested human tissues but encountered difficulties characterizing both ATD materials. This highlights the need for further refinement to develop a constitutive model for both materials. These findings provide a solid basis for advancing ATD surrogate materials and have broader implications for soft tissue research. Moreover, this work represents a crucial step towards enhancing safety standards in the automotive industry. / Thesis / Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering / Soft tissues are crucial in mitigating impact effects in various loading scenarios, yet their specific roles are complex and poorly understood. Understanding soft tissues' role in these loading scenarios is critical for understanding injury risk tolerances. This study aimed to characterize muscle and soft connective tissue behaviour during compressive loading scenarios using various techniques and modelling approaches. This was done through compressive loading tests on soft tissues and comparing these same tests with data from current crash test dummy surrogate tissues. The results showed that the soft tissues were less stiff than the crash test dummy materials in most scenarios. It was also apparent that different stiffnesses were seen depending on soft connective tissue and muscle tissue composition. This study provides insights into the rate dependence of materials, alongside the relevance of how different compositions affect their loading properties. This characterization also revealed significant discrepancies between the responses of current surrogates and human muscle and soft connective tissues. This work offers valuable observations and data for refining ATD surrogates and enhancing their fidelity in simulating real-world impact scenarios. Such advancements are pivotal for improving safety standards.

Due to its relative avascularity, low cellularity and lack of an undifferentiated cell reservoir, articular cartilage has a limited capacity for self-repair when damaged through trauma or disease. Articular cartilage impairment and the resultant reduced joint function affects millions of people at a substantial cost. In the U.S. alone, over 20 million adults are afflicted with osteoarthritis, costing more than $65 billion per year in health care and lost wages. Surgical techniques have been developed to address small, focal lesions, but more critical sized defects remain without a viable solution. Tissue engineering strategies produce cartilage-like constructs in vitro containing living cells in the hope of replacing damaged cartilage and restoring joint function. However, these constructs lack both sufficient integration into the surrounding tissue following implantation and the mechanical properties capable of withstanding the demanding and complex in vivo loading environment. Our central hypothesis is that exposure of engineered cartilage to fluid-induced shear stress increases the collagen content and mechanical properties (tensile and compressive). The overall objective of this project is to modulate the matrix composition and mechanical properties of engineered cartilage to be more like native tissue using a novel bioreactor. Improving the matrix components and mechanical stability of the tissue to be more similar to that of native tissue may aid in integration into a defect in vivo. The central hypothesis was proven in that shear stress potently altered the matrix composition, gene expression and mechanical properties of both thick and thin engineered cartilage. Modulation was found to be highly dependent on shear stress magnitude, duration, and waveform and affected different matrix constituents and mechanical properties in disparate ways. Our overall objective was satisfied on the basis that the bioreactor created stronger engineered tissues, but with the caveat that the tissues showed an increase in presence of type I collagen. Such an effect would be undesirable for articular cartilage engineered tissues, but could be very beneficial in fibrocartilaginous tissues such as that found in the temporomandibular joint. In conclusion, the novel bioreactor system provides a flexible platform technology for the study of three-dimensional engineered tissues, not just articular cartilage.

Le Soil-Mixing consiste à traiter le sol avec un liant hydraulique en le mélangeant mécaniquement en place pour améliorer ses propriétés mécaniques. Son coté économique ainsi que son faible impact environnemental ont fait de cette méthode jusque là cantonnée à l'amélioration de sols compressibles ou à forte teneur en matière organique une alternative attrayante aux méthodes traditionnelles de renforcements des sols, de soutènements (temporaires voire définitifs), de fondations et de travaux d'étanchéités. Mais avec cette augmentation de la demande, les exigences nouvelles concernant la méthode et le matériau sont apparues.De nombreuses études permettent d'apporter des éléments de réponses. Cependant, il n'existe pas d'étude paramétrique globale étudiant à la fois l'impact du type de sol et de la quantité d'eau sur la caractérisation du matériau Soil-Mixing et qui permettrait d'améliorer les méthodes de dosage ainsi que les méthodes de dimensionnement des ouvrages en Soil-Mixing.Un mélange sol-ciment est composé majoritairement de sol. Le ciment ne représentera au maximum que 30% du mélange. L'approche adoptée est donc plutôt celle du domaine de la géotechnique que des bétons hydrauliques. Nous avons pris le parti de baser notre travail sur une étude de laboratoire, en réalisant des mélanges dits “de référence”. Trois sables et cinq sols fins ont été traités en faisant varier à chaque fois les quantités de ciment et d'eau, afin d'observer l'influence de la granulométrie, de l'argilosité et de la quantité d'eau présente dans le mélange sur la résistance, la rigidité et la déformation à la rupture du matériau. Par ailleurs, des sols reconstitués à base de sable et de sol fin ont été traités afin d'étudier l'impact des fines et de leur nature sur la résistance du matériau. En parallèle, le suivi de différents chantiers nous a permis d'étudier la mise en œuvre de la méthode, l'homogénéité du matériau réalisé in situ, et de comparer les résultats obtenus avec ceux de l'étude paramétrique. Les retombées de ce travail sont la création d'abaques reliant la résistance au dosage en ciment et au rapport C/E, ainsi qu'un tableau de synthèse de données expérimentales des différentes propriétés mécaniques du matériau Soil-Mixing (en fonction de la nature du sol rencontré), et des formules permettant pour les sols grenus de prédire la résistance à 7 et 28 jours en fonction du pourcentage de fines dans le sol et du dosage en ciment / The Soil-Mixing consists in mixing a hydraulic binder into the soil mechanically in order to improve its mechanical properties. Because of its economical as well as its sustainable advantages, this method so far confined to the improvement of compressible or high organic content soils has become an attractive alternative to traditional methods for soil reinforcement, retaining walls (temporary or final), foundations and cutoff walls. But these new applications imply new requirements on the method as well as on the material. Many studies on the subject provide some answers. However, there is no comprehensive parametric study examining both the impact of soil type and the amount of water on the characterization of the Soil-Mixing material and would improve the testing methods and methods for design of structures in Soil-Mixing.Soil-cement mixtures are predominantly composed of soil. The cement will represent at most 30% of the mixture. That is why we have chosen to follow a geotechnical approach rather than the concrete approach for this project.We followed an experimental program based on a laboratory study, realizing mixes called "reference" mixes. Three sand soil and five fine soils were treated by varying each time the quantities of cement and water to observe the influence of particle size, clay content and the amount of water present in the mixes on the resistance of the material, stiffness and failure strain. In addition, soils made from sand and fine soils were reconstituted and treated to study the impact of fines and their nature on the strength of the material.In parallel, monitoring of various projects has enabled us to study the implementation of the method, the homogeneity of the material produced in situ, and to compare the results with those of the parametric study. The results of this work are the creation of abaci connecting the resistance to the cement content and C/E ratio, and a summary table of experimental data of different mechanical properties of the Soil-Mixing material (depending on the nature of the soil), and formulas for granular soils predicting the strength after 7 and 28 days of curing depending on the percentage of fines in the soil and on cement content

A poroelastic finite element model of a heterogeneous articular cartilage disc was created to examine the tissue response to low amplitude (± 2% strain), low frequency (0.1 Hz) dynamic unconfined compression (UCC). A strong correlation has been made between the relative fluid velocity and stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis. A contour plot of the model shows the relative fluid velocity during compression exceeds a trigger value of 0.25 μm/s at the radial periphery. Dynamic UCC biochemical results have also reported a higher glycosaminoglycan content in this region versus that of day 0 specimens. Fluid velocity was also found not to be the dominant physical mechanism that stimulates collagen synthesis; the heterogeneity of the fluid velocity contour plot conflicts with the homogeneous collagen content from the biochemical results. It was also found that a Tresca (shear) stress trigger of 0.07 MPa could provide minor stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis. A feasibility study on modeling a heterogeneous disc was conducted and found convergence issues with the jump in properties from the superficial to middle layers of the disc. It is believed that the superficial layer contains material properties that allow the tissue to absorb much of the compressive strain, which in turn increases pressure and causes convergence issues in ABAQUS. The findings in this thesis may help guide the development of a growth and remodeling routine for articular cartilage.

no / This paper presents results of a comprehensive investigation on the utilization of carpet waste fibers in reinforcement of clay soils. Effects of adding proportionate quantities of two different types of shredded carpet waste fibers to clay soils (i.e., 1, 3, and 5% by dry weight of the soil) were investigated and evaluated. The investigation was conducted on specimens prepared at their maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content, as well on specimens prepared at variable conditions of dry unit weight and moisture content. A comparison was also made on specimens prepared at the same fiber content by changing dry unit weight while moisture content was kept unchanged or by changing both dry unit weight and moisture content. The investigation revealed that inclusion of carpet waste fibers into clay soils prepared at the same dry unit weight can significantly enhance the unconfined compression strength (UCS), reduce postpeak strength loss, and change the failure behavior from brittle to ductile. The results also showed that the relative benefit of fibers to increase the UCS of the clay soils is highly dependent on initial dry unit weight and moisture content of the soil. Failure patterns were gradually transformed from the apparent classical failure for unreinforced soil specimens to barrel-shaped failures for reinforced specimens at 5% fiber content.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第25469号 / 地環博第255号 / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎地球環境学専攻 / (主査)教授 勝見 武, 准教授 高井 敦史, 教授 安原 英明 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Global Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DGAM

Assunto cada vez mais em pauta nos foros nacionais e internacionais e nas comunidades ao redor do mundo, a questão ambiental tem sido a grande responsável pela geração de produtos novos. A construção de obras de infraestrutura é um dos maiores consumidores de recursos naturais, gerando uma enorme quantidade de resíduos, acaba também por ser um setor causador do impacto ambiental. Tais resíduos, se descartados de maneira incorreta geram problemas ambientais, em contraponto o descarte em aterros sanitários tem um custo bastante elevado. Partindo dessas premissas, buscar a utilização de resíduos como matéria prima para a indústria da construção de obras de infraestrutura é o objetivo global desta pesquisa, visando benefícios ambientais e econômicos. Para tal, foram utilizados a cinza volante, obtida através da queima do carvão nas termelétricas e rica em sílica e alumina e a cal de carbureto, oriunda da produção do gás acetileno e que possui grande quantidade de óxido de cálcio. Através de ensaios de laboratório, busca-se nesta pesquisa avaliar a influência da quantidade de cal e da porosidade, isoladamente, na durabilidade, resistência à tração e resistência à compressão e a relação resistência à tração/resistência à compressão, objetiva-se ainda avaliar a utilização do parâmetro porosidade/teor volumétrico de cal na estimativa de resistência e verificar a existência de uma relação única para este parâmetro versus a perda de massa acumulada/número de ciclos. Para isto, foram escolhidos os pesos específicos aparentes secos de 10,6, 11,6 e 12,6 kN/m³ com os respectivos teores de umidade de 36,6%, 31,3% e 25 %, sendo os teores de cal de carbureto adotados de 5, 8 e 11%. Todas as amostras foram curadas por um período de 28 dias em câmara úmida a 23°C. Os resultados apontam que o incremento da quantidade de cal e do peso específico aparente seco provocam aumentos na resistência à tração por compressão diametral, na resistência à compressão simples e na durabilidade da mistura. A utilização de um expoente como ajuste para a relação porosidade/teor volumétrico de cal [η/( ) , ] apresentou-se adequada para a formulação de equações para a previsão da resistência do material cimentado e para a estimativa da perda de massa acumulada/número de ciclos. Além disso, a existência de relações únicas para o controle da resistência à tração na compressão diametral e da resistência à compressão simples em função da porosidade e teor volumétrico de cal mostraram-se úteis para as formulações de dosagem. / The environmental issue is increasingly been responsible for the generation of new products. Infrastructure construction is one of the largest consumers of natural resources. Looking for the use of industrial residues as material for the construction industry is the overall objective of this research, aiming at environmental and economic benefits. For this, present study has used fly ash (obtained by burning coal in thermoelectric power plants) and carbide lime (originated from the production of acetylene gas) to fabricate a novel material. Through laboratory tests, one aim in this research was to evaluate the influence of the amount of lime and porosity of the blend on durability, splitting tensile strength and unconfined compressive strength, as well as on tensile/compressive ratio. Another objective was to further evaluate the use of the porosity/lime index in the estimation of strength and checking for a unique relationship for this parameter versus accumulated loss of mass/number of cycles. For such study were chosen dry unit weights of 10.6 kN/m³, 11.6 kN/m³ and 12.6 kN/m³ with the respective moisture contents of 36.6%, 31.3% and 25.0% and carbide lime contents of 5%, 8% and 11%. All samples were cured for a period 28 days in a moist chamber at 23°C. The results show that increasing dry unit weight and the amount of carbide lime cause increases in durability and splitting tensile and unconfined compressive strength of the studied blends. The use of an exponent as an adjustment to the porosity/lime index [η/( ) . ] showed to be appropriate for formulating equations for predicting the strength of cemented material and to estimate the accumulated loss of mass/number of cycles. Furthermore, the existence of unique relationships for the control of splitting tensile tests and unconfined compression strength as a function of porosity and volumetric lime content proved useful for the dosage formulations.

Assunto cada vez mais em pauta nos foros nacionais e internacionais e nas comunidades ao redor do mundo, a questão ambiental tem sido a grande responsável pela geração de produtos novos. A construção de obras de infraestrutura é um dos maiores consumidores de recursos naturais, gerando uma enorme quantidade de resíduos, acaba também por ser um setor causador do impacto ambiental. Tais resíduos, se descartados de maneira incorreta geram problemas ambientais, em contraponto o descarte em aterros sanitários tem um custo bastante elevado. Partindo dessas premissas, buscar a utilização de resíduos como matéria prima para a indústria da construção de obras de infraestrutura é o objetivo global desta pesquisa, visando benefícios ambientais e econômicos. Para tal, foram utilizados a cinza volante, obtida através da queima do carvão nas termelétricas e rica em sílica e alumina e a cal de carbureto, oriunda da produção do gás acetileno e que possui grande quantidade de óxido de cálcio. Através de ensaios de laboratório, busca-se nesta pesquisa avaliar a influência da quantidade de cal e da porosidade, isoladamente, na durabilidade, resistência à tração e resistência à compressão e a relação resistência à tração/resistência à compressão, objetiva-se ainda avaliar a utilização do parâmetro porosidade/teor volumétrico de cal na estimativa de resistência e verificar a existência de uma relação única para este parâmetro versus a perda de massa acumulada/número de ciclos. Para isto, foram escolhidos os pesos específicos aparentes secos de 10,6, 11,6 e 12,6 kN/m³ com os respectivos teores de umidade de 36,6%, 31,3% e 25 %, sendo os teores de cal de carbureto adotados de 5, 8 e 11%. Todas as amostras foram curadas por um período de 28 dias em câmara úmida a 23°C. Os resultados apontam que o incremento da quantidade de cal e do peso específico aparente seco provocam aumentos na resistência à tração por compressão diametral, na resistência à compressão simples e na durabilidade da mistura. A utilização de um expoente como ajuste para a relação porosidade/teor volumétrico de cal [η/( ) , ] apresentou-se adequada para a formulação de equações para a previsão da resistência do material cimentado e para a estimativa da perda de massa acumulada/número de ciclos. Além disso, a existência de relações únicas para o controle da resistência à tração na compressão diametral e da resistência à compressão simples em função da porosidade e teor volumétrico de cal mostraram-se úteis para as formulações de dosagem. / The environmental issue is increasingly been responsible for the generation of new products. Infrastructure construction is one of the largest consumers of natural resources. Looking for the use of industrial residues as material for the construction industry is the overall objective of this research, aiming at environmental and economic benefits. For this, present study has used fly ash (obtained by burning coal in thermoelectric power plants) and carbide lime (originated from the production of acetylene gas) to fabricate a novel material. Through laboratory tests, one aim in this research was to evaluate the influence of the amount of lime and porosity of the blend on durability, splitting tensile strength and unconfined compressive strength, as well as on tensile/compressive ratio. Another objective was to further evaluate the use of the porosity/lime index in the estimation of strength and checking for a unique relationship for this parameter versus accumulated loss of mass/number of cycles. For such study were chosen dry unit weights of 10.6 kN/m³, 11.6 kN/m³ and 12.6 kN/m³ with the respective moisture contents of 36.6%, 31.3% and 25.0% and carbide lime contents of 5%, 8% and 11%. All samples were cured for a period 28 days in a moist chamber at 23°C. The results show that increasing dry unit weight and the amount of carbide lime cause increases in durability and splitting tensile and unconfined compressive strength of the studied blends. The use of an exponent as an adjustment to the porosity/lime index [η/( ) . ] showed to be appropriate for formulating equations for predicting the strength of cemented material and to estimate the accumulated loss of mass/number of cycles. Furthermore, the existence of unique relationships for the control of splitting tensile tests and unconfined compression strength as a function of porosity and volumetric lime content proved useful for the dosage formulations.

Assunto cada vez mais em pauta nos foros nacionais e internacionais e nas comunidades ao redor do mundo, a questão ambiental tem sido a grande responsável pela geração de produtos novos. A construção de obras de infraestrutura é um dos maiores consumidores de recursos naturais, gerando uma enorme quantidade de resíduos, acaba também por ser um setor causador do impacto ambiental. Tais resíduos, se descartados de maneira incorreta geram problemas ambientais, em contraponto o descarte em aterros sanitários tem um custo bastante elevado. Partindo dessas premissas, buscar a utilização de resíduos como matéria prima para a indústria da construção de obras de infraestrutura é o objetivo global desta pesquisa, visando benefícios ambientais e econômicos. Para tal, foram utilizados a cinza volante, obtida através da queima do carvão nas termelétricas e rica em sílica e alumina e a cal de carbureto, oriunda da produção do gás acetileno e que possui grande quantidade de óxido de cálcio. Através de ensaios de laboratório, busca-se nesta pesquisa avaliar a influência da quantidade de cal e da porosidade, isoladamente, na durabilidade, resistência à tração e resistência à compressão e a relação resistência à tração/resistência à compressão, objetiva-se ainda avaliar a utilização do parâmetro porosidade/teor volumétrico de cal na estimativa de resistência e verificar a existência de uma relação única para este parâmetro versus a perda de massa acumulada/número de ciclos. Para isto, foram escolhidos os pesos específicos aparentes secos de 10,6, 11,6 e 12,6 kN/m³ com os respectivos teores de umidade de 36,6%, 31,3% e 25 %, sendo os teores de cal de carbureto adotados de 5, 8 e 11%. Todas as amostras foram curadas por um período de 28 dias em câmara úmida a 23°C. Os resultados apontam que o incremento da quantidade de cal e do peso específico aparente seco provocam aumentos na resistência à tração por compressão diametral, na resistência à compressão simples e na durabilidade da mistura. A utilização de um expoente como ajuste para a relação porosidade/teor volumétrico de cal [η/( ) , ] apresentou-se adequada para a formulação de equações para a previsão da resistência do material cimentado e para a estimativa da perda de massa acumulada/número de ciclos. Além disso, a existência de relações únicas para o controle da resistência à tração na compressão diametral e da resistência à compressão simples em função da porosidade e teor volumétrico de cal mostraram-se úteis para as formulações de dosagem. / The environmental issue is increasingly been responsible for the generation of new products. Infrastructure construction is one of the largest consumers of natural resources. Looking for the use of industrial residues as material for the construction industry is the overall objective of this research, aiming at environmental and economic benefits. For this, present study has used fly ash (obtained by burning coal in thermoelectric power plants) and carbide lime (originated from the production of acetylene gas) to fabricate a novel material. Through laboratory tests, one aim in this research was to evaluate the influence of the amount of lime and porosity of the blend on durability, splitting tensile strength and unconfined compressive strength, as well as on tensile/compressive ratio. Another objective was to further evaluate the use of the porosity/lime index in the estimation of strength and checking for a unique relationship for this parameter versus accumulated loss of mass/number of cycles. For such study were chosen dry unit weights of 10.6 kN/m³, 11.6 kN/m³ and 12.6 kN/m³ with the respective moisture contents of 36.6%, 31.3% and 25.0% and carbide lime contents of 5%, 8% and 11%. All samples were cured for a period 28 days in a moist chamber at 23°C. The results show that increasing dry unit weight and the amount of carbide lime cause increases in durability and splitting tensile and unconfined compressive strength of the studied blends. The use of an exponent as an adjustment to the porosity/lime index [η/( ) . ] showed to be appropriate for formulating equations for predicting the strength of cemented material and to estimate the accumulated loss of mass/number of cycles. Furthermore, the existence of unique relationships for the control of splitting tensile tests and unconfined compression strength as a function of porosity and volumetric lime content proved useful for the dosage formulations.

Detta examensarbete presenterar resultat från en laboratoriestudie på en lera från Enköping stabiliserad med kalk och cement. I laboratoriet har isotropiskt konsoliderade odränerade aktiva triaxialförsök utförts på provkroppar och jämförts med enaxliga tryckförsök som utförts på provkroppar från samma inblandningstillfälle. De två metoderna har visat sig ge likvärdiga värden på utvärderad odränerad skjuvhållfasthet. Elasticitetsmodulen har däremot visat sig vara mycket högre för triaxialförsöken än enaxliga tryckförsök. För triaxialförsöken har förhållandet mellan sekantmodulen och den odränerade skjuvhållfastheten legat mellan 112-333. För de enaxliga tryckförsöken ligger förhållandet mellan sekantmodulen och den odränerade skjuvhållfastheten inom intervallet 44-146. Inget mönster har dock kunnat urskiljas då förhållandet mellan de två olika försöken har varierat mellan 1,0-3,5. Ett lägre och högre back pressure användes under triaxialförsöken. Till skillnad från tidigare studier har dock båda dessa back pressures vattenmättat provkroppen. Resultaten visar på att back pressure inte påverkar testresultaten, förutsatt att provet blivit fullt vattenmättat. Utöver denna jämförelse har ytterligare passiva triaxialförsök utförts. De passiva triaxialförsöken har utförts som isotropiskt konsoliderade odränerade försök.. Däremot har två olika metoder använts under skjuvningsfasen. I första typen av försök har den axiella spänningen minskats medan den radiella spänningen har hållits konstant. I den andra typen av försök har i stället den radiella spänningen ökats samtidigt som den axiella spänningen har hållits konstant. Skjuvhållfastheter har jämförts med resultat från kalkpelarsondering i fält och visar på att skjuvhållfastheten genomgående varit högre i fält än i laboratoriet. Dessutom har skjuvhållfastheter och elasticitetsmoduler testats efter olika lagringstider genom enaxliga tryckförsök. / This master thesis presents results from a laboratory study on a clay from Enköping which was stabilized with lime and clay. Isotropic consolidated undrained compressive tests were performed on samples and compared to unconfined compressive testing. The two methods have shown no difference in the evaluation of undrained shear strength. However the modulus of elasticity was shown to be much higher for the triaxial tests. For the unconfined compressive tests the relation between the undrained shear strength and secant modulus was within the range of 44-146. The equivalent for the triaxial tests was in the interval of 112-333. However no pattern was extinguishable between the two tests as this relation has varied between 1,0 to 3,5. A lower and higher back pressure was used during the triaxial testing. However, both back pressures have succeeded in saturating the sample. Results show that the back pressure has little effect on the results, as long as the sample has been fully saturated. In addition to this extension tests were performed on samples as well. The tests performed were isotropic consolidated undrained. However two different shearing methods were used. The first test was strain rate dependant while the second test was stress rate dependant. In the first test the vertical stress decreased while the radial stresses were kept constant, while in the other test the radial stresses increased while the vertical stress were kept constant. The undrained shear strength was compared to lime/cement column penetration tests in field. Results showed that tests in field show a much higher undrained shear strength than laboratory testing.