Abstract: During the consolidation process of new deposited seabed which had been simulated both on tidal flat of the Yellow River Estuary and in a circular soil bin indoors, the critical shear stress and physico-mechanical properties, such as bulk density, water content, penetration resistance, shear strength, were measured to analyze the influencing factors and variation of the critical shear stress of silty sediment in the Yellow River delta. Research shows that there is a positive correlation between critical shear stress and bulk density, penetration resistance, shear strength; while negative correlation between critical shear stress and water content and good quantitative relationship between critical shear stress and dry density, shear strength. Comparing test results with ones calculated with formulae in references, the individualism of critical shear stress of silty sediment in the Yellow River delta is obtained.

Key words: fine sediment seabed, critical shear stress, physico-mechanical properties, recirculating flume test, Yellow River delta