Rapid Field Detection of Moisture Content for Base and Subgrade

Properly applying water during compaction of roadway base and subgrade materials is important for achieving adequate compaction. Construction specifications determine the required water content, and field measurement historically takes place with a nuclear density gauge. However, with the regulatory requirements of using nuclear sources, and continued interest in stiffness or modulus-based compaction acceptance, researchers need to identify techniques to rapidly measure moisture content on base and subgrades without using a nuclear source. Researchers surveyed potential technologies for such rapid measurement including the Electrical Density Gauge (EDG), the DOT 600, and a moisture analyzer.