Abstract: The influence of end conditions on the load transfer behavior of cast-in-place pile is discussed using the load transfer method. The three-stage hyperbolic softening model is present as the load transfer function of pile-side, and tri-linear model is introduced to simulate the characteristics of sediments in pile end. Differential equations are established by dealing with the states of static equilibrium, with the settlements and resistant forces of pile-end as boundary conditions. By transforming the nonlinear differential equations into integral equetions and solving them numerically; variation of the axial force along depth and the load-settlement curve of pile are obtained. The load-settlement curves and distribution of friction on pile-side of pile under different pile-end stiffnesses and thicknesses of sediments are studied by parameter analysis. Analysis of two groups of adjacent test piles shows that this method can well represent the actual character of pile foundations.

Key words: load transfer, end conditions, strain softening, pile-end stiffness, sediment