How affect the pipe length of pumping circuit on concrete pumping

Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of the geometry of the pumping circuit, particularly the pipe length, on the concrete pumping. Four different horizontal pipe lengths (200, 400, 600, and 1000 m) were installed to conduct the full scale pumping tests. To analyze the effect of pipe length, it is necessary to determine how the rheological properties and thickness of the slip-layer vary according to the pipe length. In addition, it is important to determine the pressure variations considering the changes in rheological properties and thickness of the slip-layer according to the pipe length. The pumpability of concrete, including the required pressures and flow rates, was found to be controlled linearly by the pipe length. Although the rheological properties of bulk concrete varied depending on the pipe length, the rheological properties, particularly the plastic viscosity and thickness of the slip-layer, which were found to be the governing factors on the concrete pumping, were relatively constant. The pressure drop per unit length according to the pipe length was also relatively constant.