AbstractThis paper deals with a numerical formulation of the kinematic limit analysis method. This formulation, based on a finite element discretization, is available for axisymmetric cases. The linearization of the yield Tresca and Von Mises criteria leads to linear programming problems. The velocity fields described here are plastically admissible only on an average. The influence of this approximation is quantified for the triaxial test problem and the stability of circular excavations.