The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Geotechnical Design Manual (GDM) has been developed to provide uniform design practices for Department and consultant personnel preparing geotechnical reports and contract plans for SCDOT projects. The designer should attempt to meet all criteria and practices presented in the GDM, while fulfilling SCDOT’s operational and safety requirements. This Manual should be used in conjunction with the Bridge Design Manual and the Seismic Design Specifications for Highway Bridges.
The GDM presents most of the information normally required in the geotechnical design of transportation projects; however, it is impossible to address every situation that the designer will encounter. Therefore, designers must exercise good judgment on individual projects and, frequently, they must be innovative in their approach to geotechnical design. This may require, for example, additional research into geotechnical literature.
The 2008, Version 1.0, of the GDM consists of Chapters 1 through 12 and is being issued prior to the completion of the entire GDM. These Chapters reference Chapters that have not been completed. In these cases, the geotechnical engineer, either in-house or consultant, shall use the current state-of-practice for those Chapters referenced. Any questions concerning the applicability of procedure, analysis, or method should be directed to the Preconstruction Support – Geotechnical Design Section (PCS/GDS). Additional Chapters as completed, will be added to the manual.
Updates
As the need arises, Bridge Design Memorandums will be issued to supplement or revise the requirements of the GDM.
Order Information
Copies of the GDM may be obtained, at a cost of $65.00 per manual, through the Department's Engineering Publications Office at (803) 737-4533 or at engrpubsales@dot.state.sc.us.
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