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An approximate closed-form solution has been obtained to the problem of a vertically loaded pile in a linear elastic soil. This solution has been derived by uncoupling the load-transfer for the pile into separate shaft and base components. Throughout the development of the analysis, well-proven numerical techniques have been used to verify that the assumptions made are reasonable. The final form of the solution gives the load-settlement ratio of the pile in terms of the pile geometry and stiffness and soil stiffness. The analysis has been used to back-analyze pile tests, enabling immediate estimates of the soil stiffness profile to be made from the measured load-settlement curve of the pile. The application of the method to pile design is demonstrated—design curves being sketched for piles of different geometries in two typical soft clay deposits.
Randolph et al. (Fri,) studied this question.