A　comprehensive　consideration　of　the　shear　and　tensile　strengths　offers　a　deeper　perspective　on　slope　stability.　However,　such　consideration　is　rare　for　unsaturated　slopes　with　cohesive　soils　owing　to　the　difficulties　of　tensile　strength　testing　and　its　representation　in　the　unsaturated　criterion.　This　study　provides　a　feasible　way　to　incorporate　tensile　strength　into　the　unsaturated　strength　criterion　and　apply　it　to　stability　analysis.　Based　on　the　effective　stress　principle,　a　cut-off　criterion　with　a　tensile　reduction　coefficient　was　developed　for　unsaturated　soils.　Compared　to　the　linear　extrapolation　approach,　the　proposed　approach　effectively　avoids　the　overestimation　of　the　tensile　strength.　An　unsaturated　triaxial　experiment　was　conducted　to　establish　the　relationship　between　the　reduction　coefficient　and　matric　suction　for　a　typical　cohesive　soil.　For　practicality,　a　fitting　equation　was　proposed　for　the　theoretical　analysis.　For　three-dimensional　unsaturated　slope　analysis,　an　analytical　model　was　built　using　the　upper　bound　limit　analysis　method;　it　captures　the　influence　of　the　tensile　cut-off　impact　on　the　sliding　surface　and　the　effects　of　infiltration　or　evaporation,　allowing　for　an　explicit　expression　of　the　safety　factor.　Parametric　analysis　indicated　that　the　tensile　cut-off　effect　reduced　stability　and　became　more　pronounced　as　the　suction　phenomenon　intensified.　©　2024