Hoek-Brown　(HB)　failure　criterion　is　widely　used　to　predict　the　strength　of　intact　or　heavily　jointed　rock　mass.　For　stability　analysis　of　rock　slopes　governed　by　the　HB　failure　criterion,　the　equivalent　linearity　to　Mohr-Coulomb　(MC)　criterion　is　often　adopted,　leading　to　the　well-known　equivalent　Mohr-Coulomb　method　(EMCM).　Existing　studies　on　EMCM　analysis　mainly　consider　the　shear　strength　of　rock　material,　while　consideration　of　the　tensile　strength　is　rare.　This　contradicts　the　fact　that　the　underlying　tensile　strength　of　rock　mass　has　considerable　impact　on　the　rock　slope　stability　in　real　world.　In　this　regard,　this　paper　proposes　a　limit　analysis-based　approach　that　can　account　for　tension　in　the　three-dimensional　(3D)　stability　analysis　of　HB　rock　slope.　This　approach　is　established　on　the　equivalent　linearity　of　the　HB　criterion　with　consideration　of　tensile　strength,　known　as　the　equivalent　tension　cut-off　MC　method　(ETMCM),　and　using　a　horn-like　3D　mechanism　of　limit　analysis.　The　safety　factor　solutions　given　by　the　proposed　approach　are　validated　by　previous　studies　and　numerical　results.　Parametric　studies　are　conducted　to　investigate　the　effect　of　rock　tensile　strength　on　slope　stability.　Results　show　that　the　consideration　of　tension　leads　to　a　more　conservative　safety　factor　and　a　sharper　curvature　of　the　failure　surface,　and　these　impacts　tend　to　be　more　obvious　with　the　increases　in　slope　inclination　and　slope　width.　Finally,　the　stability　of　the　HB　rock　slope　under　seepage　conditions　is　studied　using　the　proposed　approach.　The　results　indicate　that　the　effect　of　tensile　strength　is　highly　remarkable　in　seepage　circumstances.　©　2023　Institute　of　Rock　and　Soil　Mechanics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences