Abstract:The rheological characteristics of Gaomiaozi(GMZ) bentonite suspension with different watersolid ratio, salt type and concentration were investigated by using Brookfield DVIII rheological device, and the yield stresses of bentonite suspensions were obtained from rheological curves, then the yielding initial water velocity was calculated with a consideration of the Stoke law. The results showed that the rheological curves of bentonite suspension moved lower with the increase of watersolid ratio. For the bentonite suspension with a watersolid ratio below 5.0, the suspension presented a characteristic of pseudoplastic fluid when shearing rate was slow, while the rheological curve slope tended to be constant when shearing rate exceeded a certain value. For the bentonite suspension with a watersolid ratio above 5.0, the suspension gradually presented a characteristic of newtonian fluid with the increase of watersolid ratio; when the concentration of NaCl solution increased, the yielding stress of bentonite suspension firstly decreased and then increased, while the yielding stress would be reduced all through the test with the increase of CaCl2 solution’s concentration; the yielding initial water velocity of bentonite suspension was between 10-4~10-2 m?s-1 under the condition in this study.