Abstract:Different inter-slice conditions and lacks of approximation for some equilibrium conditions are needed for slope stability analysis with different limit equilibrium methods. Errors exist when considering these assumptions in calculation. Therefore,it is important to understand the error range and the influences of the inter-slice assumptions on the safety factors. By introducing the load coefficient,a new method for slope stability analysis based on a series of linear programming problems is proposed. The method transforms the problem of estimating the lower-and-upper bounds for the slope stability of a series of linear programming problems,and the lower-and-upper bounds of safety coefficient using the functions of load¢s coefficient defined by linear programming are determined. In this method,no extra-assumptions are proposed;and the rational conditions are full employed. So the given estimation by the method will be more realistic and practical;and the influences of the inter-slice assumptions and equilibrium conditions on the slope stability are studied. These results will be useful for the better understanding of the different methods for slope stability analysis.