This study presents a simplified model of cake filtration that incorporates the effect of pressure redistribution on the cake-filter medium interface. The analytical solutions arrived at allow for improved prediction of the cake growth process (including cake thickness and filtration velocity as functions of time) compared with conventional theory. The pressure and void ratio profiles calculated from the present study are compared with results obtained from the use of conventional theory and the numerical solution of dynamic filtration equations. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.