In order to reveal the influence of stress paths on the stress-strain characteristics of natural sedimentary soft soil,physical and mechanical properties,conventional triaxial and stress path tests were carried out on the undisturbed soft soils of Tianjin and Hengshui Lake.The systematical investigation was conducted on the stress-strain characteristics and influencing factors of natural sedimentary soft soil under different stress paths.The main conclusions are as follows:stress-strain characteristics of soft soil are changed by the variation of the structural and bonding characteristics.Under the drainage shear,Tianjin soft soil with weaker structural and bonding characteristics reveals the strain hardening characteristics similar to remolded soil,while Hengshui Lake soft soil with stronger structural and bonding characteristics exhibits the strain softening characteristics of undisturbed soil.Due to the presence of structural and bonding characteristics,natural sedimentary soft soil can bear tensile stress and show expansion deformation.The content of clay particles and colloidal particles of Hengshui Lake soft soil are higher than Tianjin soft soil,exhibiting obvious bonding characteristics,higher shear strength and more significant expansion deformation under the axial unloading stress paths.The conclusions can provide reference for the design calculation and constitutive model of natural sedimentary soft soil.