Abstract: The influence of the slope surface loaded strip load on the slope stability is numerically investigated. The strength reduction method was used in the commercial finite element software PLAXIS. The global factors of safety, location of shape of the potential slip planes under various loading conditions are obtained. The influence of the magnitude as well as the direction of finite strip loads acting at the slope surface on the slope stability are investigated. The results indicate that, when the loading angle is relatively gentle, the role of surface loads can improve the slope stability; when the loading angle increases, the slip direction turns to upward. The shape of the potential slip plane turns from the circular to linear shape when the loading magnitude increases. When the loading angle is relatively small, the area of slope instability zone increases first with the increase of the loading magnitude and then gradually decreases. When the loading angle becomes larger, the area of the potential slope instability zone increase with the loading magnitude and then decreases. As a conclusion, the surface loaded surcharge with a smaller loading angle can actually improves the slope stability.

Key words: Stripe Load on the Face of Slope, Strength Reduction Method, Slope Stability, Factor of Safety, Sliding Plane, Sliding Direction