Abstract: Through high pressure consolidated tests,the structural yield pressure of loess was obtained by three different methods of data processing,and the structural strength was determined by direct shear tests.Analysis of the relationship between the structural strength and the structural yield pressure,showed that the increment of structural yield pressure was larger than that of the structural strength along with the reducing of moisture content,there was a linear relationship between the increment of the structural strength and the structural yield pressure,and under the coaction of normal stress and horizontal shear stress,the structure of loess was beginning to failure before the normal stress reached the structural yield pressure.