Abstract: The HS-Small model, which can reflect the attenuation of shear modulus of soils with strain in tiny strain range, has been gradually utilized in excavation engineering. The laboratory tests using triaxial apparatus, oedometer apparatus and resonant column device are conducted to obtain the prime parameters of HSS model, such as c’, E_oed^ref,E₅₀^ref,R_f,G₀^ref and γ_0.7 for typical silty clay of layer No. 2, muddy silty clay of layer No. 3, muddy clay of layer No. 4 and silty clay of layer No. 5 in Shanghai. The measured parameters are compared with those in other cities in China and verified through practical engineering. The simulated results of horizontal displacement of retaining wall approximately equal to the measured data. The HSS model and the determination method for parameters are proved to be applicable in numerical simulation of excavation engineering in Shanghai. It is of reference value to similar engineering.