The creep deformation of Zhanjiang clay is small in the range of low deviatoric stress; its isochronal curve of creep approximates to line without obvious yield characteristics

and demonstrates linear creep behavior. Whereas the deviatoric stress exceeds a critical value

the creep deformation increases to accelerating creep phase in a short time; and the soil mass failure occurs. Based on the creep deformation mechanism of each phase of Zhanjiang clay

the plastic components with variable parameters are introduced and assumed to be in absolute accordance with the plastic flow law of Mohr-Coulomb; the components are combined with the generalized Kelvin model; and the visco-elastoplastic model of Zhanjiang clay is put forward to describe the overall process of creep. In addition

the suggested model is developed in FLAC3D and compared with the Cvisc model; the results of numerical analysis indicate that the former is felicitous to characterize the each phases of creep deformation behavior of Zhanjiang clay.