NATM Pressure Cell

5 Gould Road, PO Box 2155
New London, NH 03257 USA

Voice: (603) 526-9800
info@canarysystems.com
www.canarysystems.com
Canary System’s Viewing NATM Pressure Cell

Standard Operating Procedure
Overview
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will serve as a guide to show users how the NATM Pressure Cell
instrument data is imported with Canary System’s MultiLogger Suite and how the data calculations are
performed within MLWeb. It will also go through procedures on how to view NATM Pressure Cell
instrument data charts and reports with the Canary’s MLWeb.
Contents
Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
NATM Pressure Cell Theory .................................................................................................................... 2
Viewing NATM Pressure Data in MLWeb ................................................................................................ 5
NATM Pressure Cell Calculations ............................................................................................................ 8
NATM Pressure Cell Charts ..................................................................................................................... 9
NATM Pressure Cell Data Spreadsheet ................................................................................................. 10
NATM Pressure Cell Instrument Report ................................................................................................ 11
NATM Pressure Cell Automated Report ................................................................................................ 13
1|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

Voice: (603) 526-9800
NATM Pressure Cell Theory

The “New Austrian Tunneling Method”, or N.A.T.M., calls for the support of a tunnel by the rapid
application of shotcrete to the freshly exposed ground. The theory behind this method of support,
particularly useful in weaker ground, is that if the inherent strength of the ground can be preserved, it
will be almost self-supporting and will require much less artificial support in the form of concrete or
steel. To preserve the inherent cohesion of the ground it is necessary to prevent it from breaking up in
the first place and, hence, the need for a rapidly applied layer of shotcrete.
Figure 1 – Ground Reaction Curve
The above figure graphically shows the ground reaction curve, i.e., the amount of support required
versus the amount of inherent support and ground deformation. Thus, to prevent any support
deformation (or tunnel closure) at all, would require a support pressure exerted on the tunnel walls
equal to the original in-situ ground stress.
A strong lining with characteristics of curve A would allow only a small amount of ground deformation,
but might, because it is too strong, be uneconomical. A thinner lining which would allow more
deformation would have characteristics of curves B or C. However, a lining which is too thin, with
characteristics shown by curve D, would allow too much deformation of the rock allowing it to weaken
and ultimately fail.
The task of the N.A.T.M. stress cells is to provide a measure of the support pressure which, when
coupled with a measurement of tunnel closure, using a tape extensometer, will allow an assessment to
be made of the adequacy of the shotcrete lining, indicating the need for perhaps more or less shotcrete
to maintain stability. It is this ability to monitor the performance of the shotcrete lining that can lead to
significant reductions in tunnel support costs.
Sensor positions

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Cells are positioned on the wall of the tunnel in two ways, one way to measure tangential stresses and
the other to measure radial.
Tangential Pressure Cell (4850-1)
The Model 4850-1 is designed to measure tangential stresses in the lining. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows the
position of the cell
Figure 2. Position of tangential pressure cell

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Figure 3. Above view of the cell
Radial Pressure Cell (4850-2)
The Model 4850-2 is designed to measure radial pressures on the tunnel lining.

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Figure 4. Position of radial pressure cell
Viewing NATM Pressure Data in MLWeb

The raw data, the calculation, and output can be viewed in two folder, radial NATM Pressure Cell and Tangential
NATM Pressure Cell, each for different type of NATM Cell accordingly. Refer to the figure below.

Voice: (603) 526-9800
Instruments Data in MLWeb is organized by the DrawPoint it is present, see the picture below

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For data readings, it can be seen from clicking the instrument. (the one in blue)
A table consisiting of the data readings will come up.

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NATM Pressure Cell Calculations

NATM Cell only read data on pressure inside the shotcrete dome.
Raw Data
NATM Pressure Cell recorded changes in pressure using vibrating wire that read the pressure applied
onto a thin film of steel which is called stress cell. Consider the following data.
Recorded Readings
1/6/2020 6:00:00 8844.418945
1/6/2020 7:00:00 8844.297852
1/6/2020 8:00:00 8844.163086
Pressure
Pressure = (Current Reading - Initial Reading) x Calibration Factor

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For initial reading, usually obtained during installation, while calibration factor obtained from calibration
sheet, supplied along the instrument.
Recorded Pressure
1/6/2020 6:00:00 0.24
1/6/2020 7:00:00 0.24
1/6/2020 8:00:00 0.24
NATM Pressure Cell Charts

The chart can be accessed through Output Folder. There is only one chart, and that is pressure chart.
Have a look at the network tree below.

Voice: (603) 526-9800
NATM Pressure Cell Data Chart

This chart depicts the variation of pressure over time.
NATM Pressure Cell Data Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet is used to collect pressure data from every point in a DrawPoint. Spreadsheet is accessed
under NATM Cell folder (either radial or tangential). Have a look at the figure below, marked in blue.
10 | V i e w i n g N A T M P r e s s u r e C e l l D a t a S O P
Voice: (603) 526-9800
This is how the sheet looked, and it can be downloaded in .csv format.
NATM Pressure Cell Instrument Report

Instrument report can be utilized to find out the first and last reading value of each point in a drawpoint.
Have a look at the network tree below to access it, (marked in blue)
Voice: (603) 526-9800
The instrument report can be seen below
The instrument report can be downloaded in two different formats, that is .pdf and .csv
Voice: (603) 526-9800
NATM Pressure Cell Automated Report

Automated report are the reports that get sent through via email in an automated manner. But if
donwloading directly from MLWeb is required, it can be accessed in the network tree under Automated
Reports folder. Check the figure below
Voice: (603) 526-9800
The automated report shows all the necessary parameter, such as status of each instrument, the last
pressure data, the gage factor (calibration factor) used in the calculation, etc. This report can be
downloaded in .pdf format.

NATM Pressure Cell

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5 Gould Road, PO Box 2155

New London, NH 03257 USA

Canary System’s Viewing NATM Pressure Cell

1|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

NATM Pressure Cell Theory

Figure 1 – Ground Reaction Curve

2|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

Tangential Pressure Cell (4850-1)

Figure 2. Position of tangential pressure cell

3|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

Figure 3. Above view of the cell

Radial Pressure Cell (4850-2)

4|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

Figure 4. Position of radial pressure cell

Viewing NATM Pressure Data in MLWeb

5|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

6|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

A table consisiting of the data readings will come up.

7|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

NATM Pressure Cell Calculations

Pressure = (Current Reading - Initial Reading) x Calibration Factor

8|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

NATM Pressure Cell Charts

9|Viewing NATM Pr es s ure C ell Data SO P

NATM Pressure Cell Data Chart

NATM Pressure Cell Data Spreadsheet

NATM Pressure Cell Instrument Report

The instrument report can be seen below

NATM Pressure Cell Automated Report

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