Modularizing honeycombs for enhancement of strength and energy absorption

•Multi-directional graded design concept is proposed and applied to honeycombs.•It can double or more the strength of honeycombs.•The enhancement of this graded design can be easily tailored by varying design parameters.•The enhancement of strengthgives rise to dramatic improvement of energy absorption.•Modularized design could be adaptive to many kinds of honeycomb structures.