Abstract: This paper takes the steep bedding rock slope as the research object, uses shaking table model test and FLAC^3D numerical simulation method and studies the dynamic response law and deformation failure mode of steep bedding rock slope under strong earthquake. Results show that the acceleration response of steep bedding rock slope on the surface and in the vertical direction shows elevation amplification effect, while the acceleration response in horizontal direction turns into surface effect. The type of input wave has significant influence on the acceleration response of slope model, and the acceleration response under sine wave is obviously stronger than that of natural seismic wave. The acceleration response of steep bedding rock slope under the action of sine wave is obviously stronger than that of natural seismic wave. The acceleration amplification coefficients increases first and then decreases with seismic wave amplitudes increasing. The influence of seismic wave duration on the acceleration response of steep bedding rock slope is small. Based on the analysis of the deformation and failure characteristics of the slope in the model test and numerical simulation, the failure mode of the steep bedding rock slope under strong earthquake action is described as (1)earthquake induction, (2)rock mass relaxation and tension fracture at the exposed part of the slope, then (3) tensile crack of the shoulder rock layer, then (4)appearance of shear cracks in the middle part of the slope-gradual coalescence of cracks, subsequently (5)the occurrence of high locality landslide.