| The Moduloc dynamic seismic retrofit system, an energy absorbing diaphragm-to-wall connector for unreinforced masonry, was tested per the ICC Acceptance Criteria 205 (ICC AC 205) to determine its design characteristics. The Moduloc system utilizes a special energy-dissipating connector, installed at the floor/wall interface, to transfer force from the floor diaphragm to a series of vertical PT rods. To determine the design characteristics, three unreinforced brick walls were built with the Moduloc system installed. Cyclic, out-of-plane lateral loads were applied to the Moduloc connector, which was located at mid-height of the wall. The data from these tests were then used to determine the dynamic characteristics of the Moduloc system. The equivalent effective viscous damping value for an URM wall retrofitted with the Moduloc system can then be used determine the design seismic forces, their distribution over the height of the building, and the corresponding internal forces and system displacements. |
