In this work

we conduct a laboratory experiment to simulate continuous rainfall based on four designed soil tanks to clarify the interaction effects of different rainfall intensities

soil layer thickness distribution

and soil base permeability on runoff generation and sediment erosion on hillslopes. The results show that the surface runoff rate takes an increasing trend with significant fluctuations during continuous rainfall

and the average erosion rate shows a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The surface runoff rate is influenced mainly by rainfall intensity

with a variance contribution rate of 88.85%; the erosion rate is affected primarily by rainfall intensity and its interaction with soil layer thickness distribution

with variance contribution rates of 46.13% and 20.64%

respectively. And the interaction between soil layer thickness distribution and soil base permeability also has a certain impact on the erosion rate

with a variance contribution rate of 9.21%. Therefore

besides rainfall intensity

we should consider the factors of soil layer thickness

soil base permeability

and their interactive effects on the runoff and sediment yield process. This study would lay a basis for understanding the mechanisms of runoff generation and sediment erosion on hillslopes under complex underlying conditions.