Experimental study and theoretical analysis indicate that effective length of flexible piles exists. Considering the resistance of rigid foundation to the relative displacement between piles and soils
assuming the frictional resistance distributed as triangle form
and based on the pile-soil compatible deformation
the effective length of piles is deduced. And the settlement of flexible piles composite foundation is divided into three sections to be calculated. Comparing the method introduced in this paper with several other methods
it is proved that the method is effective and feasible.