Assuming an identical surfacing maximum tissue compartment overpressure (aka SurfGF), is there any actual evidence that setting GFlow below GFhigh decreases deco risk?
I'm asking this because the invention of gradient factors was based on what we now believe to be the flawed premise that the Varying Permeability Model was a more accurate model for determining deco risk. Baker invented Gradient Factors to allow Haldanean models like Buhlmann to mimic VPMs requirements for deeper stops, But somehow, Gradient Factors - specifically GFlow being set lower than GFhigh - have persisted even though VPM has largely been rejected.
Thinking about what this means in terms of actual deco dive profiles, using a smaller GFlow results in somewhat greater loadings in the slower tissues on surfacing in exchange for limiting the maximum tissue loadings in the fastest tissues during the dive. Is that really an advantageous tradeoff?
In addition, the smaller the GFlow realtive to GFhigh, the longer the deco schedule. If you were to add that time to the shallowest stop in a profile where GFhigh = GFlow, you would end up with a lower SurfGF.
I'm asking this because the invention of gradient factors was based on what we now believe to be the flawed premise that the Varying Permeability Model was a more accurate model for determining deco risk. Baker invented Gradient Factors to allow Haldanean models like Buhlmann to mimic VPMs requirements for deeper stops, But somehow, Gradient Factors - specifically GFlow being set lower than GFhigh - have persisted even though VPM has largely been rejected.
Thinking about what this means in terms of actual deco dive profiles, using a smaller GFlow results in somewhat greater loadings in the slower tissues on surfacing in exchange for limiting the maximum tissue loadings in the fastest tissues during the dive. Is that really an advantageous tradeoff?
In addition, the smaller the GFlow realtive to GFhigh, the longer the deco schedule. If you were to add that time to the shallowest stop in a profile where GFhigh = GFlow, you would end up with a lower SurfGF.
