In　this　study,　a　novel　analytical　method　combining　a　3D　continuum　model,　Biot　propagation　theory,　a　fictitious　saturated　soil　pile　(FSSP)　model,　and　a　heterogeneous　pile　model　is　proposed　to　analyze　the　dynamic　response　of　a　defective　floating　pile　embedded　in　saturated　soils.　The　vertical　velocity　of　the　defective　pile　in　the　frequency　domain　is　obtained　by　introducing　the　complete　coupling　conditions　of　the　pile　and　soil.　With　the　most　widely　used　half-sine　pulse　as　the　excitation　force　in　the　low-strain　integrity　testing　of　the　pile,　the　solution　is　extended　to　the　time　domain　using　the　inverse　Fourier　transform　(IFT).　The　rationality　and　accuracy　of　the　proposed　approach　are　verified　via　comparison　with　previous　methods　and　measured　data　from　an　engineering　example.　Parametric　analyses　are　also　conducted　to　investigate　the　quantitative　relationship　between　the　pile　defect　parameters　and　the　dynamic　response　characteristics　of　a　defective　pile.　It　is　indicated　that　the　depth　and　length　of　a　pile　defect　can　be　roughly　evaluated　using　the　proposed　methodology　when　clear　signals　are　reflected　from　pile　defect　interfaces　in　practical　engineering.　©　2022　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.