Abstract: In this paper, Timoshenko beam on elastic foundation is introduced to model a pile in a layered half space under a dynamic lateral loading. The wave equation of the system in frequency domain is established using Fourier transform. The natural frequency equation and dynamic response of the system are also obtained using the method of reverberation ray matrix. And then, the response of a pile under transient loading is presented by means of the discrete Fourier inverse transform. Case studies show that the dynamic response of a pile is closely related with the distribution of layered soil and the relative stiffness between pile and soil.