Lessons learned from the monitoring of retaining structures, built in demanding geotechnical conditions in SloveniaŽvanut, Pavel (Avtor) Logar, Janko (Avtor) geotechnicsgretaining structuresbored pilesnumerical modellingfinite element methodobservational methodA typical retaining structure built with large-diameter bored piles in soft clastic rock, and sup-ported by pre-stressed permanent ground anchors, is discussed. Step-by-step back analyses were performed. A simplified geological structure was first used in the analyses, together with a simple Mohr-Coulomb model. The results were compared with more complex analyses using a Hardening Soil model and a more detailed geological structure. Much better results were obtained with the use of the HS model, which is more suitable for the modelling of rock of such a type, but even with the use of the MC model the final results were quite good, making the use of the observational method attractive for engineers.The Icelandic Geotechnical Society20192024-03-27 08:27:06Neznano18571sl© 2019 The authors and The Icelandic Geotechnical Society, IGS: All rights reserved