有许多类型的斜坡破坏，崩塌和滑坡是常见的。在陡坡前面的部分岩石和土壤突然之间脱离了主要部分，塌落的塌陷过程被称为塌陷。滑坡发生时，边坡从稳定状态变为不稳定状态。滑坡是沿原有地质界面或新形成的剪切破坏面向下滑动的岩石和土壤的一部分。在边坡破坏中，滑坡具有最严重的破坏作用。
边坡失稳与剪应力作用下土体的破坏有关。剪切应力和土体抗剪强度影响边坡的稳定性，如地质性质和边坡土体的变化，边坡的间断层与倾斜面之间的关系。斜率大小和形状的变化和侵蚀或开挖边坡的边缘与自然或人工边坡上的负载,地下水位的变化斜率和瞬态振动引起的地震和爆破都将影响边坡的稳定性。边坡的破坏主要是由于重力和水压力，特别是在开挖形成的边坡和堤岸。
There are many types of slope failure, collapse and landslides that are common. Part of the rock and soil in front of the steep slope suddenly separated from the main part, the process of tumbling crash caving or falling to the bottom known as the collapse. Landslide occurs when the slope changes from a stable to an unstable condition. The landslide is part of the rock and soil along the pre-existing geological interface or the newly formed shear failure surface sliding down. In the slope failure, the landslides have the most serious destructive.
The instability of the slope is related to the destruction of the soil under shear stress. The shear stress and soil shear strength affect the stability of the slope such as the geologic properties and the changes of soil mass in the slope, the relationship between discontinuities stratum and inclination surface of the slope. The change of slope size and shape and erosion or excavation to the edge of the slope with a natural or artificial load on the slope, the change of groundwater level in the slope and the transient vibration caused by the earthquake and blasting will all influenced by the stability of the slope. The slope failure is mainly due to the gravitational and pour water pressure, especially in the excavation formed slope and embankments.