To　enhance　the　reliability　and　effectiveness　in　design　of　laterally　loaded　single　pile,　a　link　finite　element　method　based　on　the　principle　of　composite　stiffness　and　bi-parameter　was　presented.　Some　flaws　in　the　m-method　recommended　by　the　current　technical　codes　for　the　design　of　laterally　loaded　pile　were　pin　pointed　through　theoretical　analyse　and　static　loading　experiments,　and　a　modified　method　was　proposed.　Unlike　the　analytical　approach,　the　is　link　finite　element　method　established　in　this　paper　has　no　restrictions　in　parameter　selection　and　avoids　tedious　calculations　of　table　looking-up.　In　addition,　it　is　not　necessary　to　assume　the　restraint　conditions　of　piles　tips　and　discriminate　the　long,　short　or　medium　piles.　Comparisons　with　the　practical　examples　showed　that　the　results　between　the　link　finite　element　method　and　analytical　approach　agreed　well　when　the　same　composite　stiffnesses　and　bi-parameters　were　employed.　The　calculated　displacements　and　rotation　angles　at　the　tops　of　the　piles　and　the　maximum　bending　moments　and　their　positions　were　in　agreement　with　the　measurement.　Comparisons　also　showed　that　better　results　than　those　of　the　analytical　approach　was　achieved　through　multiple　trial　calculating　and　adjusting　of　the　exponent　n　and　composite　stiffness　EI　when　the　values　of　the　proportional　coefficient　m　were　determined　according　to　various　layers　of　soil　around　the　piles.　©　2016,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.