The shift from river sand (RS) to manufactured sand (MS) as a fine aggregate in concrete is driven by environmental sustainability concerns. However, negative impacts of MS on concrete workability have raised doubts about its suitability for long-distance pumping in construction projects. This study evaluates the performance of MS concrete compared to RS concrete of the same strength grade during long-distance pumping. A full-scale coiled pipeline with measured length of 348 m was built, twelve batches of C30 and C60 concrete were prepared, and pumping tests were conducted at discharge rates of 2.5–18.9 liter per second (L/s). The workability and rheological parameters were assessed before and after pumping. The measured and predicted pumping pressure were analyzed and calculated based on rheological parameters and lubricating layer (LL) parameters. Results indicate that MS increased the yield stress and decreased the LL thickness index of C30 concrete, while it decreased the viscosity coefficient of C60 concrete. Post-pumping, the change in yield stress was similar for both MS and RS concrete, but MS reduced the plastic viscosity change in C60 concrete. MS did not significantly affect the pumping pressure loss, but influenced the pumping pressure prediction deviation by influencing the thixotropy. The classic pumping pressure prediction model developed by Kapan obviously overestimated the pumping pressure during long-distance pumping, and the deviation was more prominent in high-strength concrete pumping. MS increased the thixotropy of C30 concrete and reduced the prediction deviation of pumping pressure, but had the opposite effect on C60 concrete.
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