The study tested how soft clay behaves under different types of stress paths like those found in building foundations. They used special tests to mimic these stress paths and found that the clay's strength and deformation properties change depending on the type of stress applied. The results showed that the clay's strength increases with higher pressure, and its behavior is different under lateral unloading stress compared to conventional tests. This information can help design better foundations, as certain soil properties can indicate how it will react to real-world stress.