Moisture-aware stiffness-based compaction quality control of unbound pavement layers: Laboratory calibration and field validation using lightweight deflectometers

Key Points

• Quality control of pavement layers relies on stiffness measurements influenced by moisture conditions, and those conditions are critical for effective compaction.
• The study reports an accuracy of up to 95% in predicting the compaction quality using lightweight deflectometers under varying moisture levels.
• Analysis incorporated both laboratory calibration and field validation across multiple sites, integrating real-world variability into the assessment.
• Results highlight the importance of moisture awareness in pavement construction, potentially enhancing durability and performance in various conditions.