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where the coarse aggregate are prominently visible are called honeycombed surface,
giving a look of honey bees nest.
If not treated honeycombed surface, the RCC structure will not perform adequately as
per its design (structurally weak), will also allow ingress of harmful agents like
contaminated water and air through the created voids affecting durability of structure
substantially.
They surface due to many reasons and demands immediate corrective and preventive
actions.
Reasons For Honeycombing:
Honeycombing in RCC Structure may occurs due to one or more of the following
reasons
1. Concrete mix not being cohesive.
2. Concrete workability not sufficient/suiting its placement requirement.
3. Insufficient compaction to concrete.
4. Steel congestion not allowing concrete flow to all corner.
5. Concrete already set before placing.
6. High free fall of concrete ,while pouring
7. Form work not watertight/rigid.
8. Improper detailing and/or fixing of steel
proper compaction.
Steel Couplers can also reduce steel congestion
6. Concrete should retain Slump before it is placed. Apart from initial slump,
concrete should be designed to retain slump till the time it is placed
7. Concrete fall should be kept minimum, if required concrete bucket with canvas
pipes, concrete hose pipe, should be used to reduce concrete free fall
height.
8. Formwork need to be watertight, cement grout should not be lost while concrete
placing.
9. Steel detailing and fixing should be done to ease follow of concrete across all
corners and depths. If steel congestion can’t be avoided special concrete
formulations need to be recommended like self-compacting concrete, concrete
with lower maximum aggregate size (12.5mm) etc.
Step-3: Post grouting apply self-curing repair mortar of equivalent compressive strength
(Repair mortar are available in packaged ready made form in different strength grades).
Note the buildup not to be more than 15mm thick.
Comparison of Honeycombed surface with a repaired surface
Note: If the voids are large or hollow pockets are observed, then the same needs to be
treated using micro concrete of equivalent grade (as the concrete used for RCC
structure). Micro concrete are also available in readymade packages and in different
strength grades.