The occurrence of landslides and slope instability along riparian zones has been a recurrent phenomenon of substantial concern globally. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of riverbank slope stability utilizing soils from the Yellow River in China, with a particular emphasis on the effects of water level fluctuations, precipitation, and vegetation. The research examines the interplay of multiple factors influencing slope stability by integrating empirical data from laboratory testing with numerical analysis using Plaxis3D. Salient findings indicate that vegetation significantly enhances riverbank slope stabilization, especially during precipitation events, and that water level fluctuations profoundly impact the mechanical behavior and integrity of riverbank slopes, particularly during rapid drawdown stages. The study underscores the significance of these aspects in riverbank protection and infrastructure development. Despite the rigorous methodology employed, the work acknowledges limitations in numerical modeling and laboratory test scale, highlighting the necessity for more advanced research in geotechnical engineering.

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