Accuracy and application range of Imbalance Thrust Force Method for slope stability analysis

Imbalance Thrust Force Method (ITFM) is an original method for slope stability analysis in China, which has been widely used in the field of slope stability analysis and slope stabilization.But the accuracy of results obtained from ITFM is rarely to be interested and analyzed.It has been proved that the error from ITFM is high enough and can not be neglected, so there is some hidden trouble in practice if ITFM is misused. Through theoretical analysis and comparison of examples,it is considered that the accuracy of ITFM is influenced by the variation of obliquity of sliding surface,and it can be improved by adjusting the variation of obliquity.The variation of obliquity must be less or equal to 10 degrees when ITFM is used, otherwise other slope stability analysis methods must be selected.