Exploiting　the　linear　Mohr-Coulomb　strength　criterion,　the　stability　computation　for　earth　retaining　structures　(ERSs)　by　estimating　the　active　earth　pressure　has　been　mainly　conducted　by　setting　the　plane　strain　2D.　In　this　research,　the　modified　MC　strength　criterion　with　reduced　tensile　strength　is　put　into　use　for　the　stability　analysis　of　ERSs　employing　a　3D　multi-cone　collapse　analysis　mechanism.　After　computing　the　coefficient　of　active　earth　pressure,　the　optimal　results　are　captured　from　a　combination　of　the　genetic　algorithm　and　particle　swarm　optimization.　Research　findings　are　validated　through　comparison,　while　the　influences　of　soil　tensile　strength　threshold　and　3D　geometrical　features　over　the　stability　measures　and　critical　failure　modes　of　ERSs　are　explored　by　parametric　assessment.　It　is　revealed　in　this　work　that　the　linear　MC　strength　criterion　derives　conservative　estimates　of　the　active　earth　pressure.　The　tensile　strength　threshold　of　soil　has　a　pronounced　effect　on　both　the　objective　solutions　and　failure　shapes,　especially　for　the　ERSs　under　a　greater　dimensionless　cohesion　c/gamma　H.　This　work　provides　a　straightforward　approach　to　perform　a　3D　stability　analysis　of　ERSs　considering　a　tensile　strength　cutoff,　without　a　pre-assumed　distribution　of　the　rupture　angle.