Seismic pseudo-static stability analysis of bedding jointed rock slope stability under the interaction of the upper dangerous rock mass and lower stepped slope mass based on acceleration assessment

• An improved failure model is developed to analyze the interaction force between the upper dangerous rock mass and lower stepped sliding mass in bedding jointed rock slopes. • A novel acceleration-based criterion (aA and aB) is proposed to determine whether the interaction force FAB exists between the two regions. • The interaction force FAB increases the sliding force of the lower sliding mass and weakens its stability, aligning with field observations. • The proposed method accurately calculates safety factors for the upper, lower, and whole regions, with verification through comparative analysis.