Abstract
The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) represents in the words of one of its main authors, L. Muller, a 'structure of thought'. It is shown here that this structure rests not on an established theoretical foundation but rather on two fundamental misconceptions. The first concerns the definition of the NATM itself, according to whose concept the rock mass (ground) becomes part of the support structure. Upon closer examination, this concept is revealed to be unfounded because the ground inevitably becomes part of the support structure in any tunnel independently of the selected method of construction. The second error lies in the claim that the NATM theory can optimise the design of the tunnel lining following the so-called Fenner-Packer ground reaction curve. The reason such misconceptions flourished is that the NATM operates with ambiguous or undefined terms, making it difficult to prove through logical argument that it is incorrect.
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