Abstract：Landslide stability is analyzed systematically based on progressive and dynamic failure of geological media. It is very complex to study the landslide according to specific phenomena and model tests. According to the damage degree of the mountains，the failure can be divided into several types，including intrinsic failure，partial re-failure, run-through failure，discrete failure and motive failure. The transition of the failure type is the process of the gradual failure of the mountains. The limitations of the limit equilibrium method，the finite element method and the discrete element method in analyzing the slope stability are analyzed comprehensively. The characteristics of the continuum-based discrete element method are introduced in detail. Landslide surface cracks should be considered as a basic parameter for analyzing landslide stability. The importance of study on motive failure is then described. It is specially emphasized that the engineering problems cannot be solved only leaning on the numerical simulation，and as a result，the effective approach to estimate the condition of mountains and to analyze the landslide stability should combine calculation models and monitoring results together.
