This study is concerned with the moment-carrying capacity of short pier foundations in loose and dense cohesionless soil. The results of non-linear three-dimensional finite element analyses are compared with data from centrifuge tests modelling the behaviour of 1 m diameter prototype piers. The numerical predictions are shown to be very sensitive to the value of coefficient of earth pressure at rest, and most closely match obserbations when coefficient of earth pressure at rest = 0.6 is assumed. The results of parametric studies of square prototype piers in loose and dense cohesionless soils are then presented. Empirical equation are derived between moment-carrying capacity and pier geometry, for limiting pier rotations of 1 degree and 2 degrees, and very close fits are demonstrated between the values given by these equations and the original computed values. (A)