Based on the load tests of 8 large diameter belled piers and 2 friction piles

the vertical bearing behavior of the belled pier in non-collapsing loess-like soil is studied. The result shows that if other conditions are the same

the bearing capacity of belled pier (kN) increases and the end resistance decreases as the increase of the belled diameter. When both belled diameter (D) and shaft diameter (d) remain constants

the total ultimate side resistance enhances with L/d increasing. When the shaft diameter (d) is changeless

the bearing capacity of belled pier changes irregularly with L/D increasing; the percentage of total end resistance (greater than equal-diameter pile) decreases; the average ultimate side resistance (smaller than equal-diameter pile) increases; but better bearing behavior occurs as L/D=3. If the shaft diameter and the length of belled pier in soil are the same with the friction pile

the bearing capacity of the former is greater than the latter; and the settlement is smaller than the latter.