Abstract: Slope stability is an ancient and common problem and has always been a hot spot in geotechnical analysis. In order to overcome the inconsistency between engineering practice and reduction factor in strength reduction method, and truly reflect the instability of slope under seismic loading, we present a convenient method of calculating slope stability with explicit physical meaning—slope acceleration method. The method obtains the safety factor from the limit equilibrium idea by increasing the slope acceleration until the slope is unstable. Through some calculation examples, we compared the results of safety factor among different methods (including traditional limit equilibrium method and finite element strength reduction method), and analyzed the sensitivity of strength change. Results indicate that the safety factor obtained by the slope acceleration method is close to that by limit equilibrium method, and the plastic zone consistent with that of the strength reduction method with no need to assume the sliding surface. Compared with the slope centrifugal method, the present method obtains a more accurate safety factor and is more suitable for inhomogeneous slope. The present method is proved applicable and superior in slope stability analysis.

Key words: slope engineering, stability analysis, slope acceleration method, safety factor, limit equilibrium method, plastic zone