Buckling of tapered friction piles in inhomogeneous soil

In this paper, an analytical model is developed to estimate the buckling behavior of tapered friction piles fully embedded in inhomogeneous soil. The governing differential equation of the problem is derived with associated boundary conditions and is solved by using the Runge-Kutta method in combination with the Regula-Falsi method. Numerical examples for calculated buckling loads and buckled shapes are given to highlight the introduction of dimensionless variables related to the tapering and shaft friction of the pile, soil inhomogeneity and pile-soil stiffness as well as the degrees of freedom at the both ends of the pile.