Abstract: Differential settlement occurs in the fill between piles and soils in rigid pipe composite foundation, resulting in the occurrence of soil arch effect in the embankments. The distribution of forces acting on the piles changes with the variation of the neutral point, and it leads to variation of the layerwise settlement and the total settlement of the composite foundations. According to the fundamental principles of soil mechanics, a design method for the rigid pipe composite foundation is proposed based on the research achievements of forces acting on piles, earth pressures and load transfer mechanism of piles for the existing pile-supported rigid composite foundations. Through the validation by engineering cases, the calculated results are rational and agree with the observed ones and may satisfy the demand of project design.