Figure 3. The effects of step and steady increases in pressure on P_B at different rates of increase in pressure.

Values for P_B observed when pressure was increased stepwise (•) are plotted against the mean rate of increase in pressure (dP/dt) and compared with values of P_B when dP/dt was achieved as a steady ramp (○). There was no significant difference between values of P_B at similar mean values of dP/dt, but mean P_B was significantly increased at the two higher levels of dP/dt (n≥ 5, P < 0.05).