Pressure　plate　extractor　tests　were　performed　on　a　residual　clay　soil　over　three　drying-wetting　cycles.　An　adjustment　of　a　soil　internal　structure,　caused　by　the　change　in　the　stress　and　suction　path,　affects　the　soil-water　characteristic　curve　(SWCC).　The　hysteretic　loop　size　of　the　suction-void　ratio,　as　well　as　the　deformation,　is　influenced　by　the　stress　and　drying-wetting　cycles.　Lower　vertical　stress　together　with　fewer　drying-wetting　cycles　implies　an　increased　hysteretic　loop　size　and　deformation.　On　the　basis　of　experimental　data,　the　van　Genuchten　model　was　improved　to　evaluate　the　SWCC＇s　void　ratio　dependency　of　deformable　residual　clay　soils.　When　compared　with　the　equation　proposed　in　the　literature,　SWCC＇s　dependency　on　the　void　ratio　can　be　well　quantified　based　on　the　form　of　the　void　ratio　with　variable　stresses　and　suction.　This　model　is　validated　using　the　experimental　data　that　are　applicable　to　several　soils　subjected　to　various　hydromechanical　paths,　and　the　experimental　results　are　proved　to　match　well　with　the　model　prediction.　According　to　the　second-order　polynomial　function　relationship　between　each　parameter　and　the　cycle　number,　the　SWCC　obtained　after　five　drying-wetting　cycles　was　recommended　for　long-term　stability　analyses　of　unsaturated　residual　soils.　©　2020　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.