Abstract: Compared with Mohr-Coulomb failure theory, Hvorslev's theory can reflect the effect of void ratio, and has the same set of parameters for overconsolidated and normally consolidated soils. However, there are few works on evaluating the Hvorslev strength parameters. Based on the test results of direct shear tests and one-dimensional compression tests of intact, compacted and reconstituted specimens of Jingmen yellowish-brown expansive soil and brown expansive soil, the Hvorslev strength parameters of the two soils were calibrated. The results showed that: (1) The effective true friction angles of Jingmen yellowish-brown expansive soil and brown expansive soil were 14.5° and 24.0°, respectively, and the effective base friction angles were 2.3° and 1.5°, respectively. (3) Hvorslev's theory could predict the shear strength of intact, compacted and reconstituted specimens of Jingmen expansive soil by the same set of Hvorslev strength parameters with high accuracy. (3) Compared with Hvorslev's theory, Mohr-Coulomb failure theory needed adopt different strength parameters for different types of specimens, different percent compaction, or different overconsolidation ratio.