In order to properly evaluate the impact resistance performance of rockfall protective soil embankment combined with pocket area, 2D-DEM simulations were performed, where an efficient relationship between inter-particle bond strength and adhesive force of soil mass was found. First, The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) soil embankment with steeper slope and lower adhesion stress showed higher energy absorption effect against rock falls by local deformation-failure of the embankment; 2) the horizontal pocket area in the front of embankment shows higher protective effect of the embankment in the case that the impact direction of the falling mass was more closed to the vertical direction.
