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Treadmill training is useful for racewalking training; however, it may affect gait characteristics and lead to non-legal techniques. The aim of this study was to determine the kinematic differences between treadmill and overground conditions during racewalking at different speeds. Twenty-two elite racewalkers participated in this study. They racewalked under treadmill and overground conditions at high and medium speeds. A 12-camera motion analysis system was used to record the racewalking trials. Significant condition by speed interactions were detected in step frequency and pelvis rotation angle; step frequency decreased while pelvis rotation angle increased from overground to treadmill conditions at high speed. Compared to overground conditions, racewalkers decreased the ankle dorsiflexion angle at heel strike and increased hip flexion, shoulder hyperextension, and elbow flexion angles at heel strike and hip and shoulder extension angles at toe-off under treadmill conditions. Compared to medium speed, racewalkers decreased the contact time, hip flexion, and shoulder hyperextension at heel strike, and ankle plantarflexion and shoulder extension angles at toe-off, and increased flight time, step length, and elbow flexion angle at heel strike at high speed. Several kinematic differences during racewalking were detected between treadmill and overground conditions, with more differences detected at high speed, indicating that treadmill racewalking, especially at high speed, has different gait characteristics. However, no differences were detected in flight time and knee angle under treadmill conditions compared to overground conditions, indicating that racewalking on a treadmill does not increase the risk of disqualification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fabric reinforced phenolic (CFRP) composites filled with nano-Al2O3were prepared by a dip-coating and heat molding process and the tribological properties of the resulting composites under different sliding conditions were investigated systematically on a block-on-ring test rig. The worn surfaces were observed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to understand the mechanism. Nano-Al2O3particles, as the filler, were effective in reducing the friction coefficient and wear rate of the CFRP composites. The steady state friction coefficient of the CFRP composites filled with 4 wt.% nano-Al2O3particles was about 65.5% of that of unfilled CFRP composites, and the wear rate, in this case, was about 74.7% of that of unfilled CFRP composites. Tribological tests under different sliding conditions revealed that the filled CFRP composites seemed to be more suitable than unfilled CFRP composites for tribological applications under higher sliding speed and load. Moreover, the wear resistances of the unfilled and filled CFRP composites were found to be related to the stability of the transfer film on the counterface. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A series of micro hollow glass beads (HGB) filled castor oil-based polyurethane/epoxy resin graft interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composites were prepared. The tensile and impact strengths, impact fractured surfaces, damping properties and thermal stability of the IPN composites were studied systematically in terms of composition. Results revealed that the addition of HGB into polyurethane/epoxy IPN can significantly improve not only the tensile strength but also the impact strength. The tensile strength was increased by 61% and at the same time the impact strength was increased by 25% when the HGB content was 1.5%. The damping properties were better than the composition of 0.5% or 2% HGB content when the HGB content was 1% or 1.5%. The thermal decomposition temperature was also slightly improved by the incorporation of HGB. It is suggested that the HGB reinforced polyurethane/epoxy resin IPN composites could be used as structural damping materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyimide (PI) composites modified with nano-CuO and graphite were prepared by means of a hot press molding technique. The effects of nano-CuO and graphite on the tribological properties of the composites were studied using a block-on-ring arrangement. The results revealed that the incorporation of graphite alone improved the friction-reducing and anti-wear abilities of the PI composites, whereas incorporation of nano-CuO alone deteriorated the wear resistance of the PI composite owing to its abrasive effect. A synergistic effect was found for the combination of nano-CuO and graphite, which leads to the best tribological properties. The results showed that the filled PI composites exhibited worse tribological properties under higher load and sliding speed, and showed better friction and wear behavior under oil lubrication and worse tribological properties under water lubrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]