2D and 3D finite element simulations were performed to investigate the mechanical behaviour of the light embankmentpiling method as a pre-study to further develop a new Swedish design guideline. The light embankment piling method is used forsulphide soils and utilises timber piles as its key feature. The Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) recently changed thenational standard of the light embankment piling method from the use of a square to a triangular pile arrangement, based on a theory thata triangular arrangement creates more stable arches in between the piles. The objective with the present study is to evaluate the currentstandard by modelling setups with square and triangular pile arrangements with varying centre-to-centre distance. Both, completelyfloating and semi-floating pile groups were modelled here. The evaluation mainly focused on comparing embankment settlements as wellas axial forces in the piles. No evident difference in the mechanical behaviour between the triangular and the square piling pattern wasfound. The maximum allowed centre-to-centre distance can potentially be increased from 1.2 to 1.5m; resulting in approximately 30% fewer piles used.