This study focuses on the silty clay of the Yellow River Delta, conducting laboratory experiments to explore the strength characteristics of typical silty clay in the Yellow River Delta. The study utilizes CPTu calibration chamber tests to systematically reveal the features of cone tip resistance (q_t), side friction resistance (f_s), and pore water pressure (u₂) of the silty clay. This research provides a theoretical basis for Delta investigation in the Yellow River region. The study compares the applicability of existing CPTu inversion methods and highlights the NTH method’s advantages in evaluating silty clay’s effective internal friction angle. Supported by indoor calibration chamber tests, the study confirms the reliability of the NTH method in estimating the effective internal friction angle under normally consolidated conditions while also identifying its limitations. These research findings offer data support for the in situ rapid and accurate estimation of design parameters, like the internal friction angle and undrained shear strength of the silty clay in the Yellow River Delta. Moreover, they provide insights for obtaining other crucial in situ data.