Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of lubrication layer on velocity profile of concrete in a pumping pipe

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Materials and Structures Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The rheology of concrete is predominant for the required pressures in a pumping pipe. However, more detailed information is required on the formation and the properties of the lubrication layer near the pipe surface, in order to be able to accurately predict the pressure-discharge relation. By means of experimental research in combination with advanced numerical simulations, the lubrication layer near the surface of the concrete pipe has been studied in this paper. The research confirms the existence and the effects of the lubrication layer on the movement of concrete in a pumping pipe. By means of the particle image velocimetry technique, the velocity profile along the cross section has been accurately determined for different types of concrete. There is no real slip at the surface of the pipe, however the velocity profile steeply grows in a thin layer, called lubrication layer, showing a thickness of about 2 mm. The mortar in this layer, with lower yield stress and lower viscosity than the bulk concrete, is highly sheared. The bulk of the concrete is sheared and/or shows a plug flow, depending on the yield stress of the concrete. The stiffer the concrete, the more important the effect of the lubrication layer on the overall velocity profile. In most cases, the lubrication layer is the dominant effect for pumping of concrete. Shear of the bulk concrete only plays a significant role for more fluid concretes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Roussel N (2007) Rheology of fresh concrete: from measurements to predictions of casting processes. Mater Struct 40(10):1001–1012

  2. Feys D, Khayat KH (2013) Comparing rheological properties of SCC obtained with the ConTec and ICAR rheometers. In: International North American conference on the design and use of self-consolidating concrete. Chicago, p 429

  3. Le HD, De Schutter G, Kadri EH, Aggoun S, Vierendeels J, Tichko S, Troch P (2013) Computational fluid dynamics calibration of Tattersall MK-II type rheometer for concrete. Appl Rheol 23:34741

  4. Wallevik JE (2009) Developement of parallel plate-based measuring system for the contec viscometer. In: RILEM international symposium on rheology of cement suspensions such as fresh concrete. Chicago, USA

  5. Feys D, Verhoeven R, De Schutter G (2007) Evaluation of time independent rheological models applicable to fresh self-compacting concrete. Appl Rheol 17(5):56244–57190

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tattersall GH, Banfill PJG (1983) The rheology of fresh concrete. Pitman, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hu C, de Larrard F, Sedran T, Boulay C, Bosc F, Deflorenne F (1996) Validation of BTRHEOM, the new rheometer for soft-to-fluid concrete. Mater Struct 29(194):620–631

  8. Golaszewski J, Szwabowski J (2004) Influence of superplasticizers on rheological behaviour of fresh cement mortars. Cem Concr Res 34(2):235–248

  9. Wallevik JE (2006) Relationship between the Bingham parameters and slump. Cem Concr Res 36(7):1214–1221

  10. Kaci A, Chaouche M, Andreani PA, Brossas H (2009) Rheological behaviour of render mortars. Appl Rheol 19(1):13794

  11. Feys D, Verhoeven R, De Schutter G (2009) Why is fresh self-compacting concrete shear thickening? Cem Concr Res 39(6):510–523

  12. de Larrard F, Ferraris CF, Sedran T (1998) Fresh concrete: a Herschel-Bulkley material. Mater Struct 31(7):494–498

  13. Mélinge Y, Hoang VH, Rangeard D, Perrot A, Lanos C (2013) Tribological study of a fresh mortar and rigid plane wall under simple shear flow. Eur J Environ Civ Eng 17:419–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Morinaga M (1973) Pumpability of concrete and pumping pressure in pipeline. In: Proceedings of a RILEM seminar on fresh concrete: important properties and their measurement, 22–24 March, vol 7. Leeds, pp 1–39

  15. Bleschik NP (1977) Structural and mechanical properties and rheology of the concrete mixtures and vacuum concrete. Nauka i Technika (Minsk), p 232

  16. Best JF, Lane RO (1980) Testing for optimum pumpability of concrete. Concr Int 2(10):9–17

  17. Kaplan D (2000) Pompage des bétons. In: Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées. Ecole Central des Ponts et Chaussées

  18. Chapdelaine F (2007) Étude fondamentale et pratique sur le pompage du béton. In: Faculté des études supérieures de l′Université Laval. Université Laval, Laval

  19. Ngo TT, Kadri EH, Bennacer R, Cussigh F (2010) Use of tribometer to estimate interface friction and concrete boundary layer composition during the fluid concrete pumping. Constr Build Mater 24(7):1253–1261

  20. Feys D, Khayat KH (2013) Relation between rheological and tribological properties of highly-workable concrete, in view of estimating pumping pressure. In: International North American conference on the design and use of self-consolidating concrete. Chicago, p 430

  21. Ngo TT (2009) Influence de la composition des bétons sur les paramètres de pompage et validation d’un modèle de prévision de la constante visqueuse. University of Cergy Pontoise, France

  22. Kalyon DM (2005) Apparent slip and viscoplasticity of concentrated suspensions. J Rheol 49(3):621–640

  23. Yilmazer U, Kalyon DM (1989) Slip effects in capillary and parallel disk torsional flows of highly filled suspensions. J Rheol 33(8):1197–1212

  24. Kalyon DM, Yaras P, Aral B, Yilmazer U (1993) Rheological behavior of a concentrated suspension—a solid rocket fuel simulant. J Rheol 37(1):35–53

  25. Banfill PFG (2006) Rheology of fresh cement and concrete. Rheol Rev 2006:61

    Google Scholar 

  26. Willert CE, Gharib M (1991) Digital particle image velocimetry. Exp Fluids 10(4):181–193

  27. Blanc F, Peters F, Lemaire E (2011) Particle image velocimetry in concentrated suspensions: application to local rheometry. Appl Rheol 21(2):23735

  28. Kays WM, Crawford ME (1993) Convective heat and mass transfer, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

  29. Kakaç RK, Shah RK, Aung W (eds) (1987) Handbook of single-phase convective heat transfer, chap 3. Wiley-Interscience, New York

  30. Nouar C, Bottaro A (2010) Stability of the flow of a Bingham fluid in a channel: eigenvalue sensitivity, minimal defects and scaling laws of transition. J Fluid Mech 642:349–372

  31. Madlener K, Frey B, Ciezki HK (2009) Generalized reynolds number for non-newtonian fluids. In: Progress in propulsion physics. EDP Sciences, Brussels, pp 237–250

  32. Jana SC, Kapoor B, Acrivos A (1995) Apparent wall slip velocity coefficients in concentrated suspensions of noncolloidal particles. J Rheol 39(6):1123–1132

  33. Soltani F, Yilmazer U (1998) Slip velocity and slip layer thickness in flow of concentrated suspensions. J Appl Polym Sci 70(3):515–522

  34. Spangenberg J, Roussel N, Hattel JH, Stang H, Skocek J, Geiker MR (2012) Flow induced particle migration in fresh concrete: theoretical frame, numerical simulations and experimental results on model fluids. Cem Concr Res 42(4):633–641

  35. Spangenberg J, Roussel N, Hattel JH, Sarmiento EV, Zirgulis G, Geiker MR (2012) Patterns of gravity induced aggregate migration during casting of fluid concretes. Cem Concr Res 42(12):1571–1578

  36. Koh CJ, Hookham P, Leal LG (1994) An experimental investigation of concentrated suspension flows in a rectangular channel. J Fluid Mech 266:1–32

  37. Lyon MK, Leal LG (1998) An experimental study of the motion of concentrated suspensions in two-dimensional channel flow. Part 1. Monodisperse systems. J Fluid Mech 363:25–56

  38. Morris JF, Brady JF (1998) Pressure-driven flow of a suspension: buoyancy effects. Int J Multiph Flow 24(1):105–130

  39. Feys D (2009) Interactions between rheological properties and pumping of self-compacting concrete. In: Magnel laboratory for concrete research, Ghent University, Ghent

  40. Chapdelaine F, D. Beaupré D (2002) Eléments de réponse face aux problèmes de pompabilité du béton. In: Material specialty conference of the canadian society for civil engineering. Montréal, Canada

  41. Jolin M, Burns D, Bissonnette B, Gagnon F, Bolduc LS (2009) Understanding the pumpability of concrete. In: Shotcrete for underground support XI, ECI Symposium Series, vol P11. Davos, Switzerland

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    H. D. Le & G. De Schutter

  2. LM2GC, University of Cergy-Pontoise, Cergy-Pontoise, France

    H. D. Le, E. H. Kadri & S. Aggoun

  3. Department of Flow, Heat & Combustion Mechanics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    J. Vierendeels

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    P. Troch

Authors
  1. H. D. Le
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. H. Kadri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Aggoun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Vierendeels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Troch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. De Schutter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. D. Le.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Le, H.D., Kadri, E.H., Aggoun, S. et al. Effect of lubrication layer on velocity profile of concrete in a pumping pipe. Mater Struct 48, 3991–4003 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0458-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0458-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation