Abstract: The material point method (MPM) is applicable to simulate large deformation of continuous medium, such as slope failure process. The strength reduction method (RSM) is applied to material point method for evaluating slope stability. In a slope stability evaluation example, the safety factor and slip surface position are got respectively by limit equilibrium method (LEM), finite element strength reduction method (FEM-RSM) and material point strength reduction method (MPM-RSM). Compared with LEM, the caculated results of safety factor value and slip surface position by MPM-RSM are basically the same with LEM and FEM-RSM. Compared with FEM-RSM, the physical meaning of MPM-RSM’s failure evaluation criterion is more clear. Taking advantage of its superiority in calculating large deformation, MPM-RSM can evaluate the consequences after slope failure. A case study shows its performance in evaluating debris shape and sliding distance for different safety factors, especially the advantage in estimating the impact degree of landslide on adjacent buildings. MPM can be used for the evaluation of slope stability and evaluation of slope failure consequence.

Key words: strength reduction method, material point method, slope stability evaluation, safety factor