On load displacement characteristics of pile group

One hybrid method of finite element analysis of rod structure coupling with load transfer approach for pile group settlement was established. The nonlinear behavior of shear-displacement on the boundary between pile and ground was determined by the Randolph and Wroth’ Model in the approached closed form solution, coupling with the hyperbolic model. The action of pile groups was evaluated from the Mindlin equation solution, and adjusted by the “reinforcement and curtain” action approximately. The nonhomogeneous behaviours of ground between piles is characterized with an exponential function. The influences of number of piles, the pile length, the space between piles, and the pile-soil relative stiffness factor on the characteristic of pile groups were analyzed in a systematic way. The interaction of pile group affected by the settlement of piles with rigid cap was discussed emphatically; and the results may be used for reference in the construction in which the settlement of pile group foundation is limited strictly, e.g. splicing of bridge structure.