New Austrian Tunneling method

Presented by
by-SAURABH SUGANDH
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

When cross sections of varying dimensions or

short tunnels are required, shotcreteshotcrete-lined tunnels
constructed as either rock tunnels or NATM
tunnels are often a feasible solution.

As defined by the Austrian Society of Engineers

and Architects, the NATM constitutes a method
where the surrounding rock or soil formations of
a tunnel are integrated into an overall ringring-like
support structure. Thus the supporting
formations will themselves be part of this
supporting structure.
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

Principles
Th NATM iis an approach
The
h off philosophy
hil
h
integrating the principles of the behaviors of
rock masses under load and monitoring the
performance of underground construction
during construction.
construction The fact is that the NATM
is not a set of specific excavation and support
techniques.
q

Choice of construction method

The selection of construction methods is based on ground
and water conditions and environmental requirements
requirements.
Additionally, it is based on risk assessments of the
proposed methods
methods.

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

There are seven features on which

NATM iis b
based:
d
Mobilization of the strength of rock mass - The
method relies on the inherent strength of the
surrounding rock mass being conserved as the
main component of tunnel support. Primary
support is directed to enable rock support itself.
Shotcret protection - Loosening and excessive
rock deformation must be minimized. This is
achieved by applying thin layer of shotcrete
immediately after face advance.
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

 Measurements - Everyy deformation of

excavation must be measured. NATM requires
installation of sophisticated measurement
instrumentation It is embedded in lining
instrumentation.
lining, ground
ground,
and boreholes.
Flexible support - The primary lining is thin and
reflects recent strata conditions. Used is rather
active than passive support and strengthening is
nott by
b thi
thicker
k concrete
t lilining
i b
butt b
by a flflexible
ibl
combination of rock bolts, wire mesh and steel
ribs.
bs
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

 Closing of invert - Quickly closing of invert and

create loadload-bearing ring is important. It is crucial

in soft grounded tunnels where no section of
t
tunnel
l should
h ld b
be lleft
ft open even ttemporarily
il
Contractual arrangements - Since the NATM is
based on monitoring measurements
measurements, changes in
support and construction method are possible.
This is possible only if the contractual system
enables those changes
Rock mass classification determines support
measures - There are main rock classes for
t
tunnels
l and
d corresponding
di support.
t Th
These serve
as the guidelines for tunnel reinforcement
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

What is shotcrete?

Shotcrete is mortar or (usually) concrete

conveyed through a hose and
pneumatically
p
yp
projected
j
at high
g velocity
y
onto a surface. Shotcrete undergoes
placement and compaction at the same
ti
time
d
due tto th
the fforce with
ith which
hi h it iis
projected from the nozzle. It can be
impacted onto any type or shape of
surface, including vertical or overhead
areas
areas.
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

Based on the computation of the optimal cross

section, jjust a thin shotcrete p
protection is
necessary. It is applied immediately behind the
Tunnel boring machine, to create a natural loadloadb i ring
bearing
i and
d th
therefore
f
tto minimize
i i i th
the rock's
k'
deformation. Additionally, geotechnical
instruments are installed to measure the later
deformation of excavation. Therefore a monitoring
of the stress distribution within the rock is possible
p

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

 This monitoring makes the method very

flexible, even at surprising changes of the
flexible,
geomechanical rock consistency during
the tunneling work, e.g. by crevices or pit
water Such (usual) problems are not
water.
solved by thicker shotcrete, but the
reinforcement is done by wired concrete
which can be combined with steel ribs or
lug bolts
bolts.
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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The measured rock properties lead to the

appropriate tools for strengthening. Therefore in
the last decade NATM was also applied to soft
ground excavations and to tunnels in porous
sediments. The flexible NATM technique enables
immediate adjustments in the construction
details, but this requires a flexible contractual
system, too.

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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Key features
the keyy features of the design
g philosophy
p
p y refer
to:
The strength of the ground around a tunnel is
deliberately mobilized to the maximum extent
possible.
Mobilisation of ground strength is achieved by
allowing
ll i controlled
t ll d d
deformation
f
ti control
t l off th
the
ground.
Initial pprimaryy support
pp is installed having
g loadloaddeformation characteristics appropriate to the
ground conditions, and installation is timed with
respect to ground deformations.
Instrumentation is installed to monitor
deformations in the initial support system, as well
as to form the basis of varying the initial support
design and the sequence of excavation
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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When NATM is seen as a construction

method,, the key features are:
method

The tunnel is sequentially

q
y excavated and
supported, and the excavation sequences can
be varied.
The
Th initial
i i i l ground
d support iis provided
id d b
by
shotcrete in combination with fiber or weldedweldedwire fabric reinforcement,
reinforcement steel arches (usually
lattice girders), and sometimes ground
reinforcement (e.g. soil nails, spilling).
The permanent support is usually (but not
always) a castcast-in
in--place concrete lining.
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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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Alte berg tunnel, Germany, used

f roadways,
for
d
length
l
h 866
866m

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Thiss sshows
o s tthe
e co
construction
st uct o o
of a
alte
te be
berg
g tu
tunnel
e

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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This is the inside of the tunnel and tunnel structure

i reinforced
is
i f
d concrete.
t

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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Inntaltunnel
A t i rail
Austria,
il road
d tunnel,
t
l length
l
th 12696m
12696

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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Dietershan Tunnel, Germany, used for high

speed rails, length 7345m

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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Sitina Tunnel, Slovakia, road tunnel, length

1440m

Sitina Tunnel

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New Austrian Tunneling Method

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Thank you.!