The erosion-induced loess landslide is a typical landslide in the Loess Plateau. It has important practical significance to do some research on its mechanism. Taking Anli landslide in Yaozhou district

Shaanxi province as example

this paper discusses its initiation mechanism

establishes finite element models at different stage caused by headward erosion before sliding through finite element method

and calculates the stress and strain fields in each stage. On this basis

the shear stress

normal stress and shear strength on the final sliding surface in every model are obtained. The stability factors are also acquired by limit equilibrium method. The result shows that

with the deepening headword erosion

the shear stress on sliding surface increases constantly; but the shear strength decreases conversely. The stability of the whole landslide never reduced until failure. The experimental result shows that

the low-strain can produce a significant excess pore water pressure in saturated loess. Therefore

the excess pore water pressure in saturated sliding zone fosters the failure of this landslide. Comparing the shear stress and the shear strength

the erosion-induced landslide has a failure from the foot to the back part gradually. Therefore

this kind of landslides has characteristics of traction damage.