Nowadays,　a　large　number　of　foundation　pits　in　circular　plane　shape　have　appeared　during　urban　construction　in　China.　In　the　design　process　of　the　circular　foundation　pits,　it　is　necessary　to　check　their　basal　heave　stability.　Based　on　the　circular　arc　sliding　model　of　limit　equilibrium　method,　a　Three-dimensional　Axisymmetric　Arc　Sliding　Method　(TAASM),　in　which　the　stiffness　of　the　enclosure　structure　and　the　spatial　effects　are　considered,　was　proposed.　Furthermore,　the　TAASM　was　applied　to　check　a　practical　engineering　and　its　result　was　compared　with　those　of　other　methods.　The　main　conclusions　are　as　follows:　(a)　The　TAASM　considers　not　only　the　effects　of　the　enclosure　structure　stiffness　and　deformation　but　also　the　spatial　effects　of　circular　foundation　pits　on　the　sliding　surface;　(b)　Compared　with　results　of　other　plane　algorithm　methods,　the　result　of　TAASM　is　reasonable　relatively;　And　(c)　By　TAASM,　the　calculated　safety　factor　of　basal　heave　stability　for　circular　foundation　pits　will　be　larger　than　that　by　any　other　existing　plane　algorithm,　so　the　embedded　depth　of　enclosure　structure　may　be　optimized　to　lower　the　enclosure　structure　cost.　©　2018,　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.　and　Zhejiang　University　Press.