Abstract: Based on a series of 1D consolidation tests,the characteristics of secondary consolidation of compacted loess were studied and the influence of consolidation pressure,consolidation time,compression index and overload ratio on the coefficient of secondary consolidation was analyzed.It was indicated that with the variation of consolidation pressure,the coefficient of secondary consolidation altered regularly with the variation of stress condations.In normal consolidation state the coefficient remained approximately a constant value.But when the soil had been preloaded,the coefficient would change with the overload ratio and its duration time.Also,under normal consolidation circumstance,there was a significant correlativity between the coefficient of secondary consolidation and the compression index which would be scarcely influenced by overload ratio and its duration time.