Honeycombing In Concrete | Honeycomb In Concrete | Honeycomb Concrete | Cause of Honeycombing In Concrete | Prevent Honeycomb in concrete structure | Remedies of Honeycombs in concrete

What Is Honeycombing In Concrete

When the finished concrete surface shows the air void in it or the majority of aggregate with no mortar between them indicates the Honeycombing of Concrete. Honeycomb in concrete is caused by the mortar not filling the spaces between the coarse aggregate particles.

Causes of Honeycomb

These hollow pockets known as honeycomb occur when the cavities and areas of the space are not all filled or reached by the poured concrete. Three common causes of honeycomb in concrete includeStiff concrete is used.

• Stiff concrete is used.
• Improper vibration is used during the concrete process.
• There is less cover for reinforcement bars.
• Low concrete workability, i.e., improper w/c ratio
• Over-vibration of concrete
• Inadequate concrete compaction
• Addition of extra water to concrete mixture to increase workability
• Pouring concrete from excessive heights
• Formwork lacks proper rigidity and water tightness; hence grouts leak out of poured concrete
• High aggregate content and oversized aggregates
• Congestion of steel bars
• Small concrete cover over steel bars
• Placement of concrete that has lost workability

How to Prevent Honeycomb in Concrete Structure?

• For honeycombs in concrete proper advice should be taken from the designer regarding this.
• If that is not possible then affected concrete should be broken partly and treat it with adhesive chemicals and then should be recast.
• Honeycombs as a defect not only reduces the load-bearing capacity of concrete but water finds an easy way to reinforcement rods and rusting and corrosion starts. Corrosion is a process which continues through reinforcement rods even in good concrete, this result in losing grip between rods and concrete which is very dangerous to the safety and life of concrete structures.
• RCC structures have failed within twenty or thirty years of their construction which is less than half of their projected life. Especially no-risk should be taken in case of columns, foundations, beams etc, where breaking and recasting the concrete is the only best way.
• At places of junction of columns and beams, concrete with strictly 20 mm or less aggregates should be used with slightly more water and cement to avoid honeycombs.
• Taping the sides of shuttering from outside with wooden hammer during concreting and vibrating will help minimizing honeycombs to a great extent.
• In case of columns and beams use of thinner needle say 25 mm or less with vibrator at intricate places of concreting will also help in reducing honeycombs.

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