Abstract：Settlement calculation is one of the key problems in the design of pile foundations with elevated caps. To analyze the settlement characteristics of pile groups with elevated caps，the displacement fields in the surrounding soil of each pile in the group caused by shaft resistance are firstly obtained by the Cooke¢s method. Then，with the new displacement fields obtained by considering the reduction effect caused by the existence of piles and superimposing the displacement fields in the surrounding soil of each pile in the group，the equivalent stiffness coefficients of unit thickness soil around each pile are developed，taking into account the interaction among the piles. The Boussinesq solution is modified to include the effect of different embedded depths and then used to derive the equivalent stiffness coefficients of the soil under the pile toe. Based on these two kinds of coefficients and the load transfer method，a new method to predict the settlement of pile groups with elevated caps is advised with relevant calculation formula provided as well. Finally，to verify the presented method，the results of a model test of pile foundation are analyzed and compared with the predicted settlements；and a good agreement between them is obtained.
