Abstract: Deep beam specimens are introduced into the tensile strength test of compacted clay, and the evolution of the cracking resistance characteristics under different water content and dry density conditions, including load-deflection curves, tensile strength and energy parameters, are analyzed. The results show that: the damage mode of compacted clay is closely related to water content and is not affected by dry density; water content and dry density have significant effects on the tensile strength of compacted clay specimens, and the tensile strength increases with increasing water content and then decreases, and increases linearly with increasing dry density; the fracture dissipation energy increases with increasing water content and then decreases, and the crack ductility dissipation energy is more at high water content. The elastic reserve energy and crack ductility energy increase gradually with the increase in dry density of the specimen, and the elastic reserve energy increases more.