This paper reports a fundamental study of the characteristics of secondary compression of organic soils by using an oedometer and a triaxial consolidation apparatus.Firstly, the expression of coefficient of consolidation in which secondary compression can be taken is proposed as well as a method of estimation of final settlement including the secondary compression is.Secondly, it is known that the secondary compression rate in triaxial K0-consolidation test is about twice as large as the one in oedometer test, and we can clearly understand that the side friction in oedometer prevents the progression of secondary compression. Furthermore, it is clarified that the secondary compression rate can be linearly expressed in terms of stress ratio.Finally, the authors point out that shearing and volumetric creep rates in the triaxial consolidation test of permitting lateral strain show a little larger values than those in the K0-consolidation test of non-lateral strain.
