Sand　columns　have　been　widely　used　to　accelerate　drainage　and　then　improving　the　mechanical　properties　of　soft　soil　foundations.　The　sand　column　has　also　been　introduced　into　the　triaxial　test　by　researchers,　in　the　center　of　the　cylindrical　specimen,　to　greatly　accelerate　drainage　and　consolidation　process.　The　objective　of　this　paper　is　to　evaluate　the　consolidation　properties　of　the　triaxial　cylindrical　specimen　considering　the　presence　of　a　sand　column,　and　then　to　propose　a　consolidation　model　that　simulates　the　consolidation　process　of　the　triaxial　test.　The　consolidation　equations　were　derived　considering　the　drainage　of　the　specimen　with　a　sand　column　composed　of　both　vertical　and　double-radial　flows.　Then　the　analytical　solution　of　the　model　was　obtained　based　on　specific　initial　and　boundary　conditions.　The　comparison　between　the　consolidation　model　and　the　laboratory　tests　yielded　highly　consistent.　The　case　study　demonstrated　that　the　proposed　consolidation　model　accurately　simulates　the　evolution　of　average　pore　pressure　and　degree　of　consolidation　in　triaxial　specimens　containing　a　sand　column.　The　studies　on　the　consolidation　parameters　showed　that　there　were　different　effects　on　the　drainage　rate　for　the　diameter　of　specimen,　the　permeability　coefficients　of　specimen　and　sand　column,　as　well　as　the　radius　of　the　sand　column.　©　2024　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.