SOFT GROUND NATM by David Lees

NATM or the New Austrian Tunnelling Method has been debated Ior a number oI
years. In the words oI many engineers, 'There`s nothing new about it, or Austrian.
However the technique is based on the principles established by the Austrian, L. Von
Rabcewicz in 1964 Ior the use oI shotcrete as a support system in underground
excavation, together with geotechnical monitoring to determine iI the support system
is suIIicient but has been developed to suit many diIIerent tunnelling conditions.

A development oI the NATM was the Dual-lining Support System where shotcrete
provided temporary support and an internal cast insitu concrete lining to provides the
Iinal or permanent support. This method developed to the Shotcrete Support System
where the temporary shotcrete lining was required to carry the same loading as the
Iinal permanent lining. A Iurther development oI this system is the Single Pass Lining
System where no interenal concrete lining is used and a stronger shotcrete lining is
applied which is also the Iinal or permanent lining.

The use oI NATM in soIt ground was largely pioneered by ProIessor Muller Ior the
FrankIurt Metro in 1968 and later developed by London Undeground in the early
1990s. When work commenced on the Heathrow Tunnel and the designs Ior
CrossRail there was obviously a large input Irom Austrian and German engineers.
However it soon became obvious that there was a signiIicant diIIerence oI opinion
between the German and Austrian engineers and the British. Where as the Germans
and Austrians still believed in the principles oI NATM In providing an empirical
approach to estimate the support requirements and to monitor ground movements, the
British wanted to use the shotcrete to construct a temporary lining designed to the
same requirements as the Iinal permanent lining. This system became known as the
Shotcrete Support System and was used extensively on the Jubilee Line Extension and
Heathrow Express Rail projects in 1996.

The Design Principles

The design principles oI NATM is to take advantage oI the load-bearing capacity oI
the rock or soil in which the excavation is taking place. Hence only a reduced support
is needed to conIine the unstable ground close to the tunnel. This principle is achieved
by allowing the rock or soil mass to deIorm in a controlled way and requires
knowledge oI the inter-relationship between ground deIormation and load, aswell as
between support deIormation and load. This is oIten presented as a Fenner-Pacher
curve which shows the rock/support interaction and the ground deIormations with
time. What is important is the timing oI the installation oI the support to give
optimum results. Support installed too early attracts too much load, support installed
too late may mean collapse and loss oI any natural load bearing properties oI the
ground.

In the Shotcrete Support System, the ground is assumed to bulk in accordance with
Terzaghi`s rock loading classiIication. The shotcrete lining is generally designed as
unreinIorced, with the mesh and lattice arches provided just to assist in the Iormation
oI the lining and to provide initial support to increase stand up time oI the ground.
The structural analysis oI these linings can be carried out in accordance with the same
principles Ior concrete and segmental linings as presented by Duddeck and Erdmann
(1982). The principle is to maintain the line oI hoop thrust as close to the centre oI the
lining section as possible. This enables the maximum stress to be kept close to the
average and most oI the lining`s load capacity is mobilised. Alternatively or as a
check, the shotcrete lining can be modelled by Finite Element Analysis.



The role oI the tunnel proIile geometry is crucial in providing a means to reduce the
adverse eIIects oI bending moments. Where possible a near circular geometry should
be adopted. For large tunnel sections it is necessary to excavate in a sequence oI
smaller excavations, hence allowing rapid support and inhibiting ground movements.
This is particularly true in weak ground with only short stand up time or where
ground water is present. Typical sequences include (i) top heading, bench and invert,
(ii) pilot tunnel enlargement or (iii) single side driIt or(iv) double side driIt.

The Heathrow Collapse

On 21
st
October 1994 the soIt ground NATM works at Heathrow in London collapsed
causing major Iailure to surIace. There has been much discussion on the cause oI this
Iailure and indeed a HSE enquiry in the UK. What is apparent however, is that as
every engineer in soIt ground tunnelling engineer knows, that although most Iailures
occur in the crown major weakness also occur in the invert. Similar problems a month
earlier in Munich in Germany also highlighted this. Indeed the HSE Report (1996)
details 39 major incidents. Hence the current Shotcrete Support System relies on rapid
closure oI the Iull tunnel.

The Advantages of Shotcrete Support in Soft Ground.

There are many instances where the use shotcrete in soIt ground excavation is
advantageous - in particular Ior temporary excavations. This is particularly true Ior
both shaIts and tunnels where the main tunnelling is to be carried out by TBM, Ior
TBM erection or launch chambers, cross passages, and other small connecting
tunnels. An understanding oI the ground characteristics is required to minimise
ground movements, which in turn will determine the excavation sequence and
determine the actual thickness oI the shotcrete lining. The design principles Ior this
work i.e. Iull soil loading or temporary loading, and the requirement oI a internal
concrete lining, are an engineering decision to be made by the client and his designer
to suit the needs oI the project. The cost advantages to the project, and program
opportunities with respect to early completion with minimal impact on other works,
means that the NATM can provide great saving to projects iI properly applied.

References

1. Rabcewicz L (1964) 'The New Austrian Tunnelling Method. Water Power:
Vol 16 1964
2. Muller, L. (1977) 'The use oI deIormation measurement in dimensioning the
lining oI subway tunnels. International Symposium Field Measurement in
Rock Mechanics. Zurich 1977.
3. Duddeck H., and Erdmann J. (1982) 'Structural design models Ior tunnels.
Tunnelling`82. Institute oI Mining and Metallurgy. London
4. Lees, D.J. (1994) 'From deep, hard rock excavation to London Clay - use oI
Hoek & Browns Underground Excavation Support Design. British
Tunnelling Society Discussion 'NATM is not appropriate Ior London Clay.
London, February 1994.
5. Hoek, E. and Brown, E.T. (1980) ' Underground Excavations in Rock.
Institute oI Mining and Metalurgy London 1980
6. Health & SaIety Executive (1996) 'SaIety oI New Austrian Tunnelling
Method (NATM) Tunnels A review oI sprayed concrete lined tunnels with
particular reIerence to London Clay. HSE Books. SuIIolk, UK.
7. Institution oI Civil Engineers (1996) 'Sprayed concrete linings (NATM) Ior
tunnels in soIt ground. Thomas TelIord. London
8. Melbye T. and Garshol K.F. (1994) 'Sprayed concrete Ior rock support.
MBT International Construction Group. Switzerland


SOFT GROUND NATM by David Lees

NATM or the New Austrian Tunnelling Method has been debated Ior a number oI
years. In the words oI many engineers, 'There`s nothing new about it, or Austrian.
However the technique is based on the principles established by the Austrian, L. Von
Rabcewicz in 1964 Ior the use oI shotcrete as a support system in underground
excavation, together with geotechnical monitoring to determine iI the support system
is suIIicient but has been developed to suit many diIIerent tunnelling conditions.

A development oI the NATM was the Dual-lining Support System where shotcrete
provided temporary support and an internal cast insitu concrete lining to provides the
Iinal or permanent support. This method developed to the Shotcrete Support System
where the temporary shotcrete lining was required to carry the same loading as the
Iinal permanent lining. A Iurther development oI this system is the Single Pass Lining
System where no interenal concrete lining is used and a stronger shotcrete lining is
applied which is also the Iinal or permanent lining.

The use oI NATM in soIt ground was largely pioneered by ProIessor Muller Ior the
FrankIurt Metro in 1968 and later developed by London Undeground in the early
1990s. When work commenced on the Heathrow Tunnel and the designs Ior
CrossRail there was obviously a large input Irom Austrian and German engineers.
However it soon became obvious that there was a signiIicant diIIerence oI opinion
between the German and Austrian engineers and the British. Where as the Germans
and Austrians still believed in the principles oI NATM In providing an empirical
approach to estimate the support requirements and to monitor ground movements, the
British wanted to use the shotcrete to construct a temporary lining designed to the
same requirements as the Iinal permanent lining. This system became known as the
Shotcrete Support System and was used extensively on the Jubilee Line Extension and
Heathrow Express Rail projects in 1996.

The Design Principles

The design principles oI NATM is to take advantage oI the load-bearing capacity oI
the rock or soil in which the excavation is taking place. Hence only a reduced support
is needed to conIine the unstable ground close to the tunnel. This principle is achieved
by allowing the rock or soil mass to deIorm in a controlled way and requires
knowledge oI the inter-relationship between ground deIormation and load, aswell as
between support deIormation and load. This is oIten presented as a Fenner-Pacher
curve which shows the rock/support interaction and the ground deIormations with
time. What is important is the timing oI the installation oI the support to give
optimum results. Support installed too early attracts too much load, support installed
too late may mean collapse and loss oI any natural load bearing properties oI the
ground.

In the Shotcrete Support System, the ground is assumed to bulk in accordance with
Terzaghi`s rock loading classiIication. The shotcrete lining is generally designed as
unreinIorced, with the mesh and lattice arches provided just to assist in the Iormation
oI the lining and to provide initial support to increase stand up time oI the ground.
The structural analysis oI these linings can be carried out in accordance with the same
principles Ior concrete and segmental linings as presented by Duddeck and Erdmann
(1982). The principle is to maintain the line oI hoop thrust as close to the centre oI the
lining section as possible. This enables the maximum stress to be kept close to the
average and most oI the lining`s load capacity is mobilised. Alternatively or as a
check, the shotcrete lining can be modelled by Finite Element Analysis.



The role oI the tunnel proIile geometry is crucial in providing a means to reduce the
adverse eIIects oI bending moments. Where possible a near circular geometry should
be adopted. For large tunnel sections it is necessary to excavate in a sequence oI
smaller excavations, hence allowing rapid support and inhibiting ground movements.
This is particularly true in weak ground with only short stand up time or where
ground water is present. Typical sequences include (i) top heading, bench and invert,
(ii) pilot tunnel enlargement or (iii) single side driIt or(iv) double side driIt.

The Heathrow Collapse

On 21
st
October 1994 the soIt ground NATM works at Heathrow in London collapsed
causing major Iailure to surIace. There has been much discussion on the cause oI this
Iailure and indeed a HSE enquiry in the UK. What is apparent however, is that as
every engineer in soIt ground tunnelling engineer knows, that although most Iailures
occur in the crown major weakness also occur in the invert. Similar problems a month
earlier in Munich in Germany also highlighted this. Indeed the HSE Report (1996)
details 39 major incidents. Hence the current Shotcrete Support System relies on rapid
closure oI the Iull tunnel.

The Advantages of Shotcrete Support in Soft Ground.

There are many instances where the use shotcrete in soIt ground excavation is
advantageous - in particular Ior temporary excavations. This is particularly true Ior
both shaIts and tunnels where the main tunnelling is to be carried out by TBM, Ior
TBM erection or launch chambers, cross passages, and other small connecting
tunnels. An understanding oI the ground characteristics is required to minimise
ground movements, which in turn will determine the excavation sequence and
determine the actual thickness oI the shotcrete lining. The design principles Ior this
work i.e. Iull soil loading or temporary loading, and the requirement oI a internal
concrete lining, are an engineering decision to be made by the client and his designer
to suit the needs oI the project. The cost advantages to the project, and program
opportunities with respect to early completion with minimal impact on other works,
means that the NATM can provide great saving to projects iI properly applied.

References

1. Rabcewicz L (1964) 'The New Austrian Tunnelling Method. Water Power:
Vol 16 1964
2. Muller, L. (1977) 'The use oI deIormation measurement in dimensioning the
lining oI subway tunnels. International Symposium Field Measurement in
Rock Mechanics. Zurich 1977.
3. Duddeck H., and Erdmann J. (1982) 'Structural design models Ior tunnels.
Tunnelling`82. Institute oI Mining and Metallurgy. London
4. Lees, D.J. (1994) 'From deep, hard rock excavation to London Clay - use oI
Hoek & Browns Underground Excavation Support Design. British
Tunnelling Society Discussion 'NATM is not appropriate Ior London Clay.
London, February 1994.
5. Hoek, E. and Brown, E.T. (1980) ' Underground Excavations in Rock.
Institute oI Mining and Metalurgy London 1980
6. Health & SaIety Executive (1996) 'SaIety oI New Austrian Tunnelling
Method (NATM) Tunnels A review oI sprayed concrete lined tunnels with
particular reIerence to London Clay. HSE Books. SuIIolk, UK.
7. Institution oI Civil Engineers (1996) 'Sprayed concrete linings (NATM) Ior
tunnels in soIt ground. Thomas TelIord. London
8. Melbye T. and Garshol K.F. (1994) 'Sprayed concrete Ior rock support.
MBT International Construction Group. Switzerland


SOFT GROUND NATM by David Lees

NATM or the New Austrian Tunnelling Method has been debated Ior a number oI
years. In the words oI many engineers, 'There`s nothing new about it, or Austrian.
However the technique is based on the principles established by the Austrian, L. Von
Rabcewicz in 1964 Ior the use oI shotcrete as a support system in underground
excavation, together with geotechnical monitoring to determine iI the support system
is suIIicient but has been developed to suit many diIIerent tunnelling conditions.

A development oI the NATM was the Dual-lining Support System where shotcrete
provided temporary support and an internal cast insitu concrete lining to provides the
Iinal or permanent support. This method developed to the Shotcrete Support System
where the temporary shotcrete lining was required to carry the same loading as the
Iinal permanent lining. A Iurther development oI this system is the Single Pass Lining
System where no interenal concrete lining is used and a stronger shotcrete lining is
applied which is also the Iinal or permanent lining.

The use oI NATM in soIt ground was largely pioneered by ProIessor Muller Ior the
FrankIurt Metro in 1968 and later developed by London Undeground in the early
1990s. When work commenced on the Heathrow Tunnel and the designs Ior
CrossRail there was obviously a large input Irom Austrian and German engineers.
However it soon became obvious that there was a signiIicant diIIerence oI opinion
between the German and Austrian engineers and the British. Where as the Germans
and Austrians still believed in the principles oI NATM In providing an empirical
approach to estimate the support requirements and to monitor ground movements, the
British wanted to use the shotcrete to construct a temporary lining designed to the
same requirements as the Iinal permanent lining. This system became known as the
Shotcrete Support System and was used extensively on the Jubilee Line Extension and
Heathrow Express Rail projects in 1996.

The Design Principles

The design principles oI NATM is to take advantage oI the load-bearing capacity oI
the rock or soil in which the excavation is taking place. Hence only a reduced support
is needed to conIine the unstable ground close to the tunnel. This principle is achieved
by allowing the rock or soil mass to deIorm in a controlled way and requires
knowledge oI the inter-relationship between ground deIormation and load, aswell as
between support deIormation and load. This is oIten presented as a Fenner-Pacher
curve which shows the rock/support interaction and the ground deIormations with
time. What is important is the timing oI the installation oI the support to give
optimum results. Support installed too early attracts too much load, support installed
too late may mean collapse and loss oI any natural load bearing properties oI the
ground.

In the Shotcrete Support System, the ground is assumed to bulk in accordance with
Terzaghi`s rock loading classiIication. The shotcrete lining is generally designed as
unreinIorced, with the mesh and lattice arches provided just to assist in the Iormation
oI the lining and to provide initial support to increase stand up time oI the ground.
The structural analysis oI these linings can be carried out in accordance with the same
principles Ior concrete and segmental linings as presented by Duddeck and Erdmann
(1982). The principle is to maintain the line oI hoop thrust as close to the centre oI the
lining section as possible. This enables the maximum stress to be kept close to the
average and most oI the lining`s load capacity is mobilised. Alternatively or as a
check, the shotcrete lining can be modelled by Finite Element Analysis.



The role oI the tunnel proIile geometry is crucial in providing a means to reduce the
adverse eIIects oI bending moments. Where possible a near circular geometry should
be adopted. For large tunnel sections it is necessary to excavate in a sequence oI
smaller excavations, hence allowing rapid support and inhibiting ground movements.
This is particularly true in weak ground with only short stand up time or where
ground water is present. Typical sequences include (i) top heading, bench and invert,
(ii) pilot tunnel enlargement or (iii) single side driIt or(iv) double side driIt.

The Heathrow Collapse

On 21
st
October 1994 the soIt ground NATM works at Heathrow in London collapsed
causing major Iailure to surIace. There has been much discussion on the cause oI this
Iailure and indeed a HSE enquiry in the UK. What is apparent however, is that as
every engineer in soIt ground tunnelling engineer knows, that although most Iailures
occur in the crown major weakness also occur in the invert. Similar problems a month
earlier in Munich in Germany also highlighted this. Indeed the HSE Report (1996)
details 39 major incidents. Hence the current Shotcrete Support System relies on rapid
closure oI the Iull tunnel.

The Advantages of Shotcrete Support in Soft Ground.

There are many instances where the use shotcrete in soIt ground excavation is
advantageous - in particular Ior temporary excavations. This is particularly true Ior
both shaIts and tunnels where the main tunnelling is to be carried out by TBM, Ior
TBM erection or launch chambers, cross passages, and other small connecting
tunnels. An understanding oI the ground characteristics is required to minimise
ground movements, which in turn will determine the excavation sequence and
determine the actual thickness oI the shotcrete lining. The design principles Ior this
work i.e. Iull soil loading or temporary loading, and the requirement oI a internal
concrete lining, are an engineering decision to be made by the client and his designer
to suit the needs oI the project. The cost advantages to the project, and program
opportunities with respect to early completion with minimal impact on other works,
means that the NATM can provide great saving to projects iI properly applied.

References

1. Rabcewicz L (1964) 'The New Austrian Tunnelling Method. Water Power:
Vol 16 1964
2. Muller, L. (1977) 'The use oI deIormation measurement in dimensioning the
lining oI subway tunnels. International Symposium Field Measurement in
Rock Mechanics. Zurich 1977.
3. Duddeck H., and Erdmann J. (1982) 'Structural design models Ior tunnels.
Tunnelling`82. Institute oI Mining and Metallurgy. London
4. Lees, D.J. (1994) 'From deep, hard rock excavation to London Clay - use oI
Hoek & Browns Underground Excavation Support Design. British
Tunnelling Society Discussion 'NATM is not appropriate Ior London Clay.
London, February 1994.
5. Hoek, E. and Brown, E.T. (1980) ' Underground Excavations in Rock.
Institute oI Mining and Metalurgy London 1980
6. Health & SaIety Executive (1996) 'SaIety oI New Austrian Tunnelling
Method (NATM) Tunnels A review oI sprayed concrete lined tunnels with
particular reIerence to London Clay. HSE Books. SuIIolk, UK.
7. Institution oI Civil Engineers (1996) 'Sprayed concrete linings (NATM) Ior
tunnels in soIt ground. Thomas TelIord. London
8. Melbye T. and Garshol K.F. (1994) 'Sprayed concrete Ior rock support.
MBT International Construction Group. Switzerland