Honeycombing is a structural defect of structures in which you can see clearly in the surface the coarse aggregate (similar like a honey bees nest). These voids can affect considerable the durability and also the strength of structure. It can affect considerably the strength of the concrete because the causes of the honeycomb can be: additional water cement ratio, too much coarse aggregates, inadequate workability of concrete, or because the effect of pouring the concrete from too much distance (segregation).

I already know what honeycomb is and what parameters may cause its formation. However, I want to know if there is any technical report, guideline, or research on the effect of the void size, and their shape, on the compresive strength of the concrete. Please avoid adding the definition of honeycomb in the answer. Sorry for the boldness and thank you very much for your help.

The parameters responsible for honeycombing in concrete cause reduction in bond stress between aggregates . Due to voids in concrete, stress concentration occurs at contact surfaces of aggregates. Though cement paste acts as binding agent in concrete it is less strong as compared to aggregates and hence failure occur in cement paste or at interface of cement paste and aggregates, This is normally called as failure of concrete. Quality of cement paste ( includes cement quality and water cement ratio) is also important for the strength. Normally void percentage in concrete varies from 1 % to 15 % approximately. It is clear that as void percentage increases effective cross section for resisting compressive force decreases and hence higher stresses are developed in the honeycombed member. Due to honey combing in concrete, during load transfer mechanism from aggregate to aggregate through cement paste, failure occurs at earlier stage as compared to dense concrete.

The shape of honeycomb normally depends on size and shape of aggregates, ratio of fine aggregates to coarse aggregate. Irregular or flaky shaped voids will give lesser strength as compared to rounded voids for the given concrete.

Thanks for recommendation.

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