Isotropically　consolidated　undrained　triaxial　compression　shear　tests　were　performed　on　three　reconstituted　clays　to　investigate　the　effects　of　initial　water　contents　on　the　pore　pressure　behaviour.　The　test　results　show　that　during　undrained　shearing　the　excess　pore　pressure　normalised　by　isotropic　consolidation　pressure　has　a　linear　relationship　with　the　effective　stress　ratio　under　a　given　initial　water　content,　and　the　slope　of　the　linear　relationship　changes　with　initial　water　contents　for　a　given　reconstituted　clay.　The　pore　pressure　coefficient　at　failure　also　varies　with　initial　water　contents,　ranging　from.5　to.96　for　the　reconstituted　clays　investigated.　By　comparing　the　pore　pressure　response　induced　by　shear　stress,　the　mechanism　of　decrease　in　undrained　strength　with　an　increase　in　initial　water　content　is　identified　from　higher　shear-induced　pore　pressure.　Finally,　a　simple　equation　is　also　proposed　to　link　the　slope　of　linear　relationship　between　normalized　pore　pressure　and　effective　stress　ratio　with　undrained　strength　and　effective　friction　angle.　©　2015　Taylor　&　Francis.