Abstract: The load transfer method is adopted to obtain the simplified nonlinear analysis of settlement of vertically loaded single pile in dock pits after excavation. Considering the overconsolidation effect and nonlinear interaction between piles and soils, the theoretical model agrees with the fact quite well. The governing equation of single pile is solved by the finite difference method. The results of the finite element are compared with the calculated results, which proves the predictive capacity of the proposed method.