A simulation study was made to investigate the transient state stresses, strains, and void ratio distributions in the formation of a filter cake in a compression-permeability cell (C-P cell). A finite-element software package, ABAQUS, was used for the simulation and emphasis was placed on the effect of the cake/cell-surface friction. The validity of the simulation was assessed by comparing simulation results with available experimental data. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.