YADE　discrete　element　method　was　used　to　analyze　the　soil　arching　effect　between　anti-slide　piles.　The　depth　of　soil　layers,　space　between　anti-slide　piles　and　variation　of　soil　particles　diameters　were　given　into　consideration.　The　results　show　that　at　the　different　depths　of　soil　layers,　the　developing　of　soil　arching　is　different.　When　the　depth　of　soil　layer　is　shallow,　the　strength　of　soil　arching　is　lower　and　the　soil　arching　is　destroyed　early.　When　the　depth　of　soil　layer　is　deep,　the　strength　of　soil　arching　is　higher　and　the　soil　arching　is　destroyed　later.　The　arch　rise　decreases　with　the　increase　of　the　depth　of　soil　layers.　Space　increasing　between　anti-slide　piles　weakens　soil　arching　effect　and　the　speed　of　weakness　of　soil　arching　effect　is　slower　and　slower.　The　increase　of　range　of　soil　particles　diameters　distribution　lets　soil　arching　take　shape　in　advance,　but　has　little　influence　on　the　maximum　horizontal　load　sharing　ratio　of　piles　in　the　loading　process.　©　2016,　Central　South　University　Press.　All　right　reserved.