This study presents a mathematical model to simulate the pressure transmission that takes place when a Bingham fluid is pressurized at one pipe end and the other is maintained closed. The fluid motion inside the pipe is assumed to be one-dimensional, isothermal, weakly compressible and laminar. The model is based on the continuity and momentum equations which are iteratively solved by the method of characteristics. In contrast with Newtonian fluids, the results point out that Bingham fluids cannot transmit pressure because of the yield stress. In other words, as soon as the pressure gradient along the pipe is not enough to overcome the yield stress the fluid stops moving. A sensitivity analysis also shows that the final pressure gradient along the pipe depends not only on the Bingham number, i.e. yield stress, but also on the relationship between the pipe aspect ratio, the Reynolds and Mach numbers. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.