This　study　conducted　model　tests　to　simulate　the　passive　failure　of　granular　soils　under　different　displacement　modes,　including　the　translational　and　rotation　modes　concerning　different　pivot　points,　to　investigate　the　effect　of　displacement　modes　on　the　failure　mechanisms　and　earth　pressure.　Experimental　results　were　compared　with　the　finite　element　limit　analysis　(FELA)　method　and　theoretical　solutions.　Test　results　show　that　a　composite　log-spiral　shear　band　formed　under　the　translational　mode,　whereas　a　single　log-spiral　shear　band　can　be　observed　under　the　rotation　mode　around　the　top.　Furthermore,　the　failure　mechanism　of　the　rotation　mode　around　the　midpoint　involved　wedge-type　and　rotation-type　flow　zones　induced　by　the　combined　active　unloading　and　passive　loading.　Given　a　lower　pivot　point,　the　required　wall　rotation　for　the　soils　reaching　the　passive　limit　state　increases.　Earth　pressure　distribution　varies　across　displacement　modes:　in　the　translational　mode,　earth　pressure　increases　uniformly　with　depth,　whereas　rotational　modes　show　nonlinear　distributions.　Classical　earth　pressure　theories　are　only　applicable　to　the　translational　mode　and　tend　to　overestimate　passive　earth　pressure　in　rotational　modes.　The　experimental　results　provide　a　valuable　benchmark　for　validating　numerical　simulations　of　passive　failure,　and　charts　of　passive　earth　pressure　coefficients　considering　displacement　modes　are　presented　for　the　design　of　rigid　retaining　structures.　©　2025　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.