Abstract: Study of the consolidation and deformation characteristics of saturated clay under self-weight by centrifuge model is described. Comparison with conventional odeometer test has shown that the different kind of tests are of the same compression behaviour, but of the different consolidation behaviour. The rate of consolidation derived from centrifuge test is faster than the solution from conventional theory, but agree with the solution by finite linear consolidation theory. It is theoretically and experimentally indicated the time of consolidation will be underestimated when using the coefficient of consolidation to deduce consolidation deformation behaviour of thick clay layers in which the self-weight of soil is neglected. Moreover, comparing with odeometer test, the time required for consolidation by centrifuge test is much shorter. So it offers higher efficiency in consolidation tests.