This book is intended primarily to guide the readers on all aspects of pile foundation, though it is not easy to present the entire subject material comprehensively in one volume. This edition features latest information on pile load test. Pile foundation created a revolution ever since its inception in professional practices in the seventies. However, since then, its design methods basically have been developed by different persons in their own way, either by common sense or by using laws of mechanics. Since pile foundation is being used now on many projects, it is necessary to guide the engineering fraternity on its design in a simple way. Now piles, when provided in a series, serve as a retaining wall also. These are called soldier piles, secant piles or contiguous piles; and if soil nailing technique is not used for underground constructions, then contiguous piles provide a good substitute to sheet piles. Another offshoot to conventional RCC pile is stone column or granular pile. Pile foundation has proved its worth in all kinds of soils, including highly compressible soils. New development in pile foundation is the 'spliced pile', which may be used where deep piles are required and could be made in precast pieces and joined at site in situ. Piles are being designed for uplift and lateral loads also. In this book efforts have been made to include all these details and surely it will prove to be a highly beneficial book to all readers. Satyendra Mittal BE (Civil), ME (Soil Dyn), PhD, MIGS, FIE, MISET, MIWRS, MISSMFE, MISTE is currently Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Patanjali, Haridwar.