By using the explicit solution of three-dimensional landslide stability based on modification of normal stress distribution over the slip surface

the influence of the three-dimensional end effects on the factor of safety is investigated. The three-dimensional geometry of the slip surface is assumed to consist of a cylinder and elliptical ends. The values of three-dimensional factor of safety are computed with a series of combination of geometrical parameters. The computation results show that the ratio of the 3D factor of safety to the 2D factor of safety (F3/F2) will decrease with the increase of the ratio of the width to height of sliding mass (L/H). When L/H =2

5 and 10

the maximum value of F3/F2 is 1.3

1.1 and 1.05 respectively. In addition

with the increase of the internal friction angle of the soil

F3/F2 will become smaller

that is

the three-dimensional end effect would reduce slightly.