The　contribution　of　tensile　cracks　to　the　stability　of　cracked　slopes　is　important.　The　tensile　characteristics　of　tensile　cracks　have　a　significant　influence　on　the　stability　of　rock　slopes.　Therefore,　in　this　paper,　based　on　the　upper-bound　limit　analysis　method　and　modified　M-C　failure　criterion,　an　improved　failure　mode　of　multislider　of　rock　slopes　is　established　by　assuming　that　the　first　m　-　1　sliders　are　shear　failures　and　the　other　n　-　m　+　1　sliders　are　tensile　failures.　The　superior　division　of　the　tension　zone　and　shear　zone　is　realized　through　the　optimized　solution　and　the　corresponding　value　of　m.　The　influences　of　each　parameter　on　the　stability　coefficient,　failure　region,　tension　zone,　and　shear　zone　are　emphatically　explored.　The　results　show　that　the　accuracy　and　superiority　of　the　improved　failure　mode　is　verified　by　comparative　analysis.　The　stability　coefficient　γH/c　decreases　nonlinearly　with　an　increase　in　slope　angle　β　and　increases　nonlinearly　with　an　increase　in　dimensionless　parameter　u　(the　maximum　increase　in　γH/c　is　up　to　37.2%).　The　critical　height　of　the　slope,　the　whole　failure　region,　and　the　ground　failure　length　decrease　sharply　with　an　increase　in　β　and　increase　nonlinearly　with　an　increase　in　u　(the　critical　height　increases　up　to　20%).　The　critical　height　of　the　slope　and　the　whole　failure　region　increase　nonlinearly　with　an　increase　in　the　internal　friction　angle　φ.　In　addition,　the　ground　overload　weakens　the　effect　of　tensile　strength,　while　seismic　force　strengthens　this　effect,　but　neither　is　conducive　to　rock　slope　stability.　In　addition,　u　is　beneficial　to　slope　stability,　and　the　tensile　characteristics　are　more　significant　for　steep　rock　slopes　with　a　small　φ.　In　practical　engineering,　the　energy　dissipation　and　tensile　strength　characteristics　of　rock　masses　should　be　considered　in　the　process　of　crack　development,　especially　in　the　stability　evaluation,　reinforcement,　and　protection　of　high　and　steep　slopes　with　frequent　earthquakes.　©　2022　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.