Slope stability research under the situation of water level rapid drawdown is much popular for reservoir dike slope; but it is less considered as a working condition in the stability analysis of the Yellow River lower reaches? dikes. We select a typical section of the lower reaches? standardized dike as research object

and build a finite element model of saturated-unsaturated seepage. The criteria of rapid drawdown rate for the lower reaches? dike is put forward; and the changes of saturation lines and slope stability with water level rapid drawdown rate 2 m/d

4 m/d and 5 m/d are analyzed. Meanwhile

the stability situation of the dike slope under the worst working condition

water level rapid drawdown

is analyzed as well. The slope stability diagram under different situations

such as water level rapid drawdown and rapid drawdown combining flood immersing

is presented

and from which the slope stability situation could be checked when at a certain water falling rate and to a certain water level. This method is much convenient in actual application for engineer