This study analyzed the slump flow of a plastic fluid from the perspective of pure shear-flow theory by using the single- and double-layer models, respectively. A generalized theory for slump flow testing using a truncated cone was developed, overcoming the limitations of using cylindrical frustums. The theoretical results are presented in dimensionless form so that tests can be performed using different sizes of truncated cone. The results obtained using the single- and double-layer models were the same when the dimensionless yield stress was less than 0.15. We also compared the theoretical results with experiments of sediment slurries. Sediment slurries had high slump flow, and their slump flow characteristics were consistent with the theoretical results.