Effective stress analysis (ESA) is reduced to total stress analysis (TSA) usually by means of setting pore-water pressures at all nodes as zero

which is similar to introduce zero-pressure boundary condition (BC) and therefore decreases the versatility of programs. Terzaghi’s general effective stress principle is introduced into large deformation consolidation theory in this paper

and the corresponding incremental finite element formulations are derived. By means of setting general effective stress coefficient (GESC) as zero

a new method for reducing large deformation ESA to TSA is proposed. The presented method can be easily used without modifying any BC at all

as well as a clear concept and the increase of versatility of large deformation program of ESA. A case study was carried out; and the results show that the proposed method is as effective as expected. Setting GESC with the value of 1 and 0 respectively in the same model

the precise results could be obtained for the prediction of consolidation settlement

ultimate settlement and the degree of consolidation at any point under arbitrary load. The presented method provides an efficient tool for engineering design and construction control.