This paper presents a variational approach for the analysis of pile groups
having rigid pile caps in contact with the ground. The pile groups are assu
med to be embedded in an Isotropic elastic half-space, Both the deformation
s and shear stresses of group piles are each represented by a finite series
with a set of undetermined constants, and Mindlin's solution is applied to
evaluate the interaction among the piles, pile cap and soil. The response
of the pile group-pile cap system is determined by the use of the principle
of minimum potential energy. Comparison of the present solutions with othe
r numerical methods has shown good agreement. The computed results are also
shown to be in favourable agreement with field measurements.