Through　a　series　of　model　tests　accomplished　by　particle　image　velocimetry　analyses,　this　study　presents　the　visualisation　of　the　displacement　field　of　narrow　soil　behind　retaining　structures　under　translational　mode.　The　progressive　development　of　failure　mechanisms　and　active　earth　pressure　are　measured　in　the　process　of　tests.　Finite-element　limit　analyses　are　additionally　carried　out　to　investigate　and　verify　the　ultimate　failure　mechanism　and　active　earth　pressure　acting　on　retaining　structures.　Furthermore,　this　study　carried　out　analyses　on　the　development　of　failure　mechanisms　and　active　earth　pressure　with　different　aspect　ratios,　inclinations　of　the　existing　structure　and　backfill　surface　surcharge.　A　reasonable　agreement　was　observed　between　experimental　and　numerical　results.　With　an　increase　in　backfill　spacing,　the　failure　mechanism　of　backfill　turns　from　reflective　shear　bands　into　a　single　shear　band,　and　the　earth　pressure　exerted　on　the　retaining　structure　increases.　©　2024　Emerald　Publishing　Limited:　All　rights　reserved.