Anchor　cables　are　an　important　branch　of　geotechnical　engineering　and　are　widely　used　in　slope　reinforcement.　The　Wenchuan　earthquake　showed　that　the　anchor　cable　fracture　can　cause　the　instability　of　the　slope.　The　anchor　cables　in　the　numerical　software　obey　the　ideal　elastic-plastic　law　and　cannot　simulate　fracture　and　failure.　To　achieve　the　fracture　effect,　the　anchor　cable　model　is　modified.　Based　on　stepped　slopes,　the　dynamic　response　characteristics　are　analyzed,　and　the　effect　of　pre-tension　is　discussed.　The　results　show　that:　1)　The　influence　of　anchor　cable　failure　on　slope　safety　cannot　be　ignored.　After　the　failure　conditions　are　met,　the　free　segment　no　longer　transmits　tension,　and　the　anchored　segment　degenerates　into　soil　nails.　2)　When　the　slope　is　unstable,　the　anchor　cable　will　show　a　continuous　fracture　phenomenon.　The　fracture　first　occurred　in　the　dangerous　parts　such　as　the　slope　toe,　and　then　turned　to　the　top.　3)　The　fracture　of　the　anchor　cable　will　lead　to　the　release　of　the　soil　stress,　accompanied　by　the　change　of　the　acceleration　amplitude　and　frequency,　and　finally　manifested　as　a　larger　residual　displacement.　Slope　reinforcement　not　only　needs　to　consider　the　anchoring　force,　but　also　the　coordination　relationship.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd