A plasticity theory applicable to the powdered metal compaction is briefly summarized and its varia-tional form for the finite element analysis is described. The compaction processes of axisymmetric solid cylinder are simulated. For the analysis of the friction effect on compaction process the investigations were performed for different compact geometries. Efforts are focused on the transmitted pressure through the compact and density distributions within the compacts. Numerical results show that :(1) the friction coefficient could be selected simply from the transmitted force data by the single acting compaction test and the simulated results ; and (2) density variations within the compacts rely on the compact geometry such as height to diameter ration and the frictional condition between compact and dies.