Abstract：A method combining the elastoplastic finite element method (FEM) with the limit equilibrium method is proposed to analyze the slope stability problems. The stress，strain and displacement distributions of the slope are calculated by elastoplastic FEM. Then，the stability factor of safety of the slope is calculated with method of slices based on limit equilibrium in which the finite element computed stresses are used to compute the normal stress and the mobilized shear stress at the base center of each slice. The proposed method can not only consider the influence of the deformation of the slope on the stability，but also evaluate the stability of the slope with single stability factor of safety which is well known in geotechnical engineering. The proposed method will have broad application to the slope stability analysis.
