The Kiln Tower of Cham

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Abstract

The Kiln Tower near Cham in Switzerland is a viewing and exhibition building made of rammed earth elements with an integrated kiln. The supporting structure can be completely dismantled. The walls consist of clay elements that are pre-stressed vertically. The pre-stressed clay walls stabilise the building against wind and earthquake forces without additional vertical components. A wooden roof in the form of a disc stiffens the building. Apart from the micropiles, the foundation is also elementised and can be disassembled. The external prestressing is monitored with load gauges and allows conclusions to be drawn about the material behaviour of the clay walls. This article presents the most important aspects of the building from the perspective of the structural engineer.

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