[en] A computational model has been developed for calculating the loads and displacements on a pipe placed in a hole which is subsequently filled with soil. A composite soil-pipe finite element model which employs fundamental material constants in its formalism is derived. The shear modulus of the soil, and the coefficient of friction at the pipe are the important constants to be specified. The calculated loads on the pipe are in agreement with experimental data for layered and unlayered stemming designs. As a result more economical designs of the pipe string can be realized