Researchers studied how soft soil in Guangzhou Nansha behaves under different stress conditions. They found that initial consolidation affects how the soil responds to stress paths. When the soil is unloaded laterally, it expands due to changes in stress distribution. The study also showed that the effective stress paths during shear tests are mainly influenced by initial consolidation. Overall, the way the soil is sheared has a significant impact on its behavior, but less so on its resistance to shear forces.