AbstractA two‐dimensional consolidation analysis of clay deposits was made with an elasto‐viscoplastic constitutive model and Biot's consolidation theory. One‐ and two‐dimensional consolidation problems were analysed numerically by the finite element and finite difference methods. Results show that the proposed method can describe the effect of sample thickness and aging on consolidation phenomena. The two‐dimensional behaviour of a clay foundation during the construction of embankments also was