Based on the variational approach for pile groups embedded in soil modeled using a load-transfer curve method, a practical method was conducted to estimate the settlement of symmetric pile group supported embankments. The working mechanism of composite foundations improved by rigid or semi-rigid columns is analyzed by this method. Under equivalent strain conditions, the pile-soil stress ratio approaches the pile-soil modulus ratio up to a limited value of pile stiffness （Rm〈10）; in the subsequent stages of high pile stiffness （Rm〉10）, a further increase in the pile-soil modulus ratio cannot lead to a significant increase of stress transferred to the columns in composite foundations. The major influencing factor of the stress concentration from soil to pile in a high pile-soil modulus ratio is the padding stiffness. For the composite foundation improved by cement mixing columns, the effective column length is about 15 to 20 m and it is a more economical and effective design when the column length is less than 15 m.
Based on principal component analysis, the rules of clayey soil's behaviors affected by varied indices were studied. It was discovered that the common method of the single liquidity index IL used to determine the consistency of silt-clay or silt-loam was not rational. It was more rational that the liquidity index IL combined with the void ratio e characterized the behavior of silt-clay. Similarly the index of e depicted the nature of sandy loam more rationally than IL. The method of predicting the pile shafted resistance by the two indices of e and IL, which was more accurate, was obtained by the methodology of back propagation (BP) artificial neural networks combined with principal component analysis. It was also observed that the pile shaft resistance increased with the increase of depth within a critical affect-depth ranging from 20 to 30 m, and the harder the clayey soil consistency was, the shallower the critical depth was.
