Abstract: The influences of strength parameters (including Poisson’s ratio, tensile strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle) and geometrical parameters (fault throw, thickness, dips, and distance from free face) of fault fracture zone on the failure mode and stability of rock slope were analyzed by FLAC^3D strength reduction method in comparison with limit equilibrium method in Slide. Simulation results indicate that the increase of cohesion could improve the slope stability while Poisson’s ratio and tensile strength have barely no influence on the stability; the effects of internal friction angle on slope stability obtained from the two methods are different; in addition, the geometric parameters of rock-soil body in faults have a stronger impact on the failure modes and stability of rock slope than mechanical parameters do.

Key words: rock slope, faults, mechanical parameters, geometric parameters, failure mode, slope stability