Full-scale field trials to assess dry-stone retaining wall stability

Dry-stone constructions characterize the landscape of many areas around the world. In the past few decades, they have received growing attention due to the recognition of their heritage in the framework of historical preservation and sustainable development. Scientific studies have thus been launched to develop simulations dedicated to dry-stone walls. However, only few experimental data are available to calibrate and validate these simulations. This study presents an experimental campaign on two 2.5 m high dry-stone walls loaded by a gravel backfill until failure. Further perspectives on this work, including complementary full-scale tests and comparison with yield design modelling, are discussed as a conclusion.