Survey of Engineers on the Characteristics of Honeycomb Concrete Defect in the UAE’s Construction Sector

Void defects caused by honeycombing are among the most common flaws that form in reinforced concrete members due to mix design characteristics, concrete placement practices, and steel reinforcement detailing. Depending on their size and location within a structural member, honeycomb defects can compromise the serviceability, the strength, and the durability of concrete structures. This paper employs a survey questionnaire consisting of ten multiple-choice questions to obtain feedback from 54 construction and structural engineers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study addresses various aspects related to honeycombing in concrete, including its frequency, location, size, causes, and effective repair methods. Findings indicate that the majority of engineers believe honeycombing is most likely to occur within the concrete cover at the bottom of reinforced concrete columns. Many participants have agreed that most honeycomb voids are irregular in shape, occupy less than 10% of the cross-sectional area, and extend approximately 5–10 cm along the length of the structural member. The frequency of voids is estimated to be 1–3 voids per 10 cubic meters of cast concrete, often resulting from low-slump concrete or insufficient vibration during casting. Most surveyed engineers have also indicated that void size is the primary factor in deciding whether to repair a defective member or demolish and rebuild it. When repair is deemed feasible, most engineers have recommended applying specialized repair materials to the defective area rather than patching with conventional concrete or shotcreting. The results of this study can help focus quality control efforts during construction on critical issues identified by the survey participants.