Abstract: Prestressed anchor cable reinforcement is an important way to improve slope stability. Understanding the mechanism of reinforcement of slope by prestressed anchor cables is of great theoretical significance for guiding the design of slope reinforcement. Based on the calculation model of the high and steep slope, through continuously improving the strength reduction coefficient of rock and soil mass, we obtained the variation law of the displacement of slope foot and internal force of prestressed anchor cables. According to the stress distribution law of rock mass reinforced by prestressed anchor cables, some useful conclusions are drawn. When the strength reduction coefficient of rock and soil mass exceeds the safety factor of the slope, the internal force of prestressed anchor cables increases rapidly. The internal force is obvious when it is close to the foot of the slope. The change of internal force of anchor cables at the foot of slope can be monitored for evaluating the stability. For high and steep slopes, most of the prestressed anchor cables can not improve the compressive stress on the potential sliding surface and the shear strength of the sliding surface. The primary mechanism of the prestressed anchor cables to reinforce high and steep slopes is to control the displacement of the potential sliding body of the slope.

Key words: high and steep slope, prestressed anchor cable, reinforcement mechanism, strength reduction method