Abstract：A laboratory test program on electro-osmotic consolidation was conducted on saturated soft clay in the axisymmetric condition using an newly developed apparatus. Voltage，current，water discharge were observed during the test，and settlement and water content were measured after the test. Then consolidation characteristics of remolded soil were studied from the point of view of electro-osmotic mechanism and energy consumption on the basis of the measured data. The following conclusions are drawn. (1) Voltage at a certain point in the soil relies on both the distance to cathode and the working time. For axisymmetric model，electric potential is distributed in the form of a broken line，and the turning point is adjacent to cathode. (2) Electric field intensity in the soil is not constant but decreases with the working time when the interface resistance is not considered. (3) In the final stage of this test，soil resistance and the consumed energy may increase greatly close to a mutation point after a certain time. The test shows that the energy consumption curve can be used to control the electro-osmotic time and to reduce the energy consumption for a high efficiency of electro-osmosis.
