## 6 Conclusions and Prospect
### Prospect  
(1) The slope stability analysis conducted in this study employs a simplified homogeneous model. Although this approach is adequate for illustrating the general impacts of the wet-dry cycle, it may fail to fully encompass the intricacies of real-world slopes, which typically exhibit non-homogeneous soil characteristics and diverse hydrological conditions. In subsequent targeted research endeavors, the precision of single-slope, single-model analyses can be emphasized to inform the practice of one-slope, one-model approaches.  
(2) Throughout the study, we investigated the multi-scale degradation effects of sandy red clay under wet-dry cycles and their influence on slope stability. To highlight the dominant role of wet-dry cycles in the process of property degradation, the effects of climatic conditions (e.g., rainfall intensity, temperature, etc.) were not considered. The role of environmental factors can be comprehensively discussed at a subsequent stage to quantify the interactions among temperature, rainfall intensity, chemical dissolution, and other factors.  
(3) Although the research data presented in this study are centered on soils from specific regions, the developed experimental methodologies and theoretical frameworks are applicable to other soil types in different regions. Moreover, regional adaptation can be achieved by modifying specific parameters in subsequent studies.  
Conceptualization, W.X., Z.K. and Z.L.; methodology, W.X., Z.K. and L.J.; software, W.X. and L.J.; validation, Z.L.; formal analysis, W.X. and R.X.; investigation, L.J. and R.X.; resources, Z.L. and Z.K.; data curation, W.X. and L.J.; writing--original draft preparation, W.X.; writing--review and editing, Z.K., L.J. and R.X.; visualization, W.X., L.J. and R.X.; supervision, Z.K. and Z.L.; project administration, Z.L. and Z.K.; funding acquisition, Z.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by the science and technology development project of Sinohydro Foundation Engineering Co., Ltd. (Tianjin, China), evaluation of rapid excavation of slope cut-off wall in complex geological background area and treatment technology of mud and water intush in tunnel engineering (Grant No. 2022530103001936), the science and technology development project of Southwest Pipeline Co., Ltd. (Chengdu, China), research on hydraulic protection and soil and water conservation of oil and gas pipelines passing through fully weathered granite areas (Grant No. KKK0201921153), the Key Research and Development Plan of Yunnan Province (Kunming, China), and the technology of the comprehensive risk assessment of the earthquake catastrophe and the disaster chains in Yunnan and its application (Grant No. 202203 AC100003).  
Not applicable.  
The experimental data presented in this paper are available upon request from the corresponding author.  
**Acknowledgments:** We are sincerely thankful to the editors and reviewers for reviewing papers. We are also very grateful to our colleagues on the team who supported the implementation of this project.  
**Conflicts of Interest:** Author [PERSON], [PERSON] and [PERSON] were employed by the company Sinohydro Foundation Engineering Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.