Negative skin friction on rigid and deformable piles

Abstract A simple numerical scheme is used to evaluate the magnitude and form of the negative skin friction on both rigid (e.g. concrete) and deformable (e.g. gravel) piles. The study includes piles extended to bedrock as well as the socalled floating piles. The position of the neutral depth associated with the floating piles is of particular interest (at this position the sign of the friction on the pile changes from negative to positive) and is discussed in some detail.