Microwave dry-back of granular pavement layers

Current dry-back practices for compacted unbound granular pavement layers in road construction are time-intensive, weather-dependent, and lack control over key parameters such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation. These limitations often delay construction timelines and compromise pavement performance. Despite the adoption of various drying technologies in other industries, their scalability and efficiency for road construction remain unexplored. This thesis presents a detailed study on the use of microwave energy for rapid dryback of compacted, unbound granular materials during pavement construction. Based on laboratory experimentation and numerical modelling, the possible use and limitations of this technology are demonstrated.