How are laterally loaded piles analyzed and designed?

Lateral pile analysis methods: (1) Broms' method - simple closed-form solutions for ultimate capacity in cohesive or cohesionless soils, (2) p-y curve method - soil resistance modeled as nonlinear springs varying with depth and soil type, solved numerically (LPILE software), (3) Finite element - full 3D or beam-on-springs. Design considerations: short (rigid) vs long (flexible) pile behavior, pile head fixity, group effects (p-multipliers for shadowing), combined axial-lateral loading interaction, and cyclic/dynamic loading effects. Deflection limits often govern design.