You can access this setting by going to Control Panel > Clock and region > Change data, time or number formats.

The following dialog will appear:

Choose “More settings”. The following dialog appears:

In this dialog you can impose the separator for the decimals. It often causes trouble in Diamonds/ Excel when the separator is set to ” . ” instead of ” , “.

We recommend using Diamonds 2025 (or newer), as some of these export features might not be available in older versions.

Point results

• When you select one (or more) point support and you open the results table , Diamonds will show the reactions forces in each selected support for the selected combinations.
• Also the total value is shown.
  
• If you open the drop-down list on top of the dialog, you can choose “Summary”. In this view, the reactions for all combinations are organized for each selected point support.
  
• Using the button you can specify if the label (of the selected points) and mesh coordinates should be shown or not.
  

Line results

When you select one (or more) line elements (beams, columns, line supports ) and you open the results table , Diamonds will show the results in each selected element for the selected combinations.

For beams and columns

For beams and columns you can specify at which position you want to see the results by clicking on  .

The options are:

• Either the extreme values
  Only the minimum and maximum value in each line element are shown.
  Using the button you can specify if the label (of the selected lines) should be shown or not.
  When looking at the extreme value results, you can open the drop-down list on top of the dialog. This will open a “Summary”, containing the extreme values for all combinations but organized per bar element.
  
• Either the results in all mesh nodesThe values belonging to each mesh node of the selected bars are shown.
  Using the button you can specify if the label (of the selected lines) and the mesh coordinates should be shown or not.
  
• Either the results in the end points
  Only the values at the ends of each line element are shown.
  Using the button you can specify if the label (of the selected lines) and the mesh coordinates should be shown or not.
  
• Either the results in the common point (if there is one).Only the values in the common point of the selected line elements are shown.Using the button you can specify if the label (of the selected lines) and the mesh coordinates should be shown or not.

For line supports

For line supports you can specify at which position you want to see the results by clicking on . The relevant options for line supports are:

• Either the extreme values.
  Also the total value and mean value are shown. The mean value of the reaction can be shown/ hidden using the button .
  
• When looking at the extreme value results, you can open the drop-down list on top of the dialog. This will open a “Summary”, containing the extreme values for all combinations but organized per line support.
  
• Either the results in all mesh nodes
  Also the total value is shown.
  

Although more options can be selected at , the two above are the only two that make sense for line supports. The other two options, will lead to the “Summary”-view.

Surface results

• If you select one surface (plate or wall), the results are shown in each mesh node.
  Using the button you can specify if the label and mesh coordinates should be shown or not.
  
• If you select two (or more) surfaces, only the extreme values in each selected surface are shown.
  Using the button you can specify if the label should be shown or not.
  When looking at the extreme value results (thus when you selected two or more surfaces), you can open the drop-down list on top of the dialog. This will open a “Summary”, containing the extreme values for all combinations but organized per surface.
  

Export options

• Use the button to send the current view of the table immediately to the printer.
• Use the button to generate the print preview of the current view of the table.
• Use the button to generate an RTF of the current view of the table.
  RTF is a format that can be opened and edited with MS Word.
  The file generated by this function is often quite big due to the quality of the images. If the save the file as a *.docx in MS Word, the size will decrease but so will the quality of the images.
• Use the button to copy the results to the clipboard. With the drop-down list next to the button you can indicate if you want to:
  • to copy only the results for the current combination
  • to copy the results for all the combinations
  • to copy the results for all combinations within the current set.
    If for example you’re looking at the results for ULS FC 4 and you choose this option, all ULS results will be copied.

    

  After copying the results, you can paste them in MS Word or MS Excel.

1. Graphical image result
2. Table format

Firstly, make sure you have completed these steps

• add fire load group
• add the fire hazard to elements
• create/generate ULS FI load combination
• perform elastic analysis
• do a steel verification

Image result

In the results window

1. Click Thermal results
2. Select ‘Critical temperature’ from the dropdown list

The critical steel temperature is now displayed on screen.

You can double click a bar (having fire hazard) to consult detailed fire data

Table result format

1. Make sure you have the graphical results as described above.
2. Open the Results table

You will get a table similar to this one

This is because Diamonds shows the shadow factor k_sh multiplied by the section factor A_m/V.

Example: IPN 80 (b=42mm; h=80mm; t_w=3,9mm; t_f=5,9mm, r=3,9mm)

• The perimeter V of the cross-section equals:

     

• The area of the cross section per unit of length equals A_m

     

• The are of the bounding box of the cross-section pr unit of length equals A_m.box

     

• The shadow factor k_sh then equals (EN 1993-1-2 equ. 4.26a)

     

• The section factor A_m/V (EN 1993-1-2 Table 4.2):

     

• The result shown in the data table of Diamonds in the column ‘Section factor’ equals:

     

The choice to show the product of the shadow factor k_sh and the section factor A_m/V has several reasons:

• On the one hand, Eurocode allows the use of the shadow factor when working with nominal fire curves (EN 1993-1-2 §4.2.5.1) (which is almost always the case in Diamonds). By already including this multiplication in the ‘section factor’ column, there is no discussion for the end user that the shadow factor will be charged.
• On the other hand, there are several manufacturers of fire-resistant paints whose data is based on a k_sh x A_m/V, which makes the interpolation of the results a lot easier for the calculation core.
• Some tables also include the shadow factor like this one.

For example: you want to retrieve the internal forces in point 2 of this frame.

• Show the internal forces.
• Select the bars in node 4 and click on .
• Click on the button .
• Select the option Common point.
   
• The data table now shows the internal forces only at the end nodes of bar.
  
• Copy the content of the table to Excel. 
  If you’re sending this info to an third party, don’t forget to include an image of the structure with the line numbers and the sign convention of Diamonds.

Notes:

• This feature is available since Diamonds 2024. In older versions of Diamonds, you can use the option ‘end values bar’ instead, but then you’ll need to some cleaning up in Excel.
• At the moment, it is not possible to request this type of info in the table for multiple common points at once. You’ll need to do it one by one.
• Neither is it possible to export the data for all combinations at once. You’ll need to do it combination by combination.

Possible causes of inconsistent results are

• Stiffness difference between the plates, think of
  • different thickness
  • different plate type
  • presence of a beam
  • presence of hinges
• Difference in plate orientation (local x’z’ axes)
  This rarely happens in new Diamonds models, but can happen import of PowerPlate files. In this case, it is recommended to make all the plate orientations uniform. If you don’t, you will end up with mixed results which are difficult to interpret. The results are correct and consistent but for some plates Mxx results are shown at Mzz and vice versa. Make sure that all orientations are for example at 0°.

If none of the items above apply to your case, feel free to contact the BuildSoft support service: support@buildsoft.eu.

1. Model build-up & pre-design: you’re building up the Diamonds-model and want to test if it’s working well. You also want to get a first estimation of the section and estimate the feasibility of the project.
2. Final design: you’re using the Diamonds-model to calculate the reinforcement, limited the deformation, to do unity check, to determine the reactions for the design of the foundation, to determine the internal to design the connections, …

It’s not that easy to give recommendations that work for every model. So we listed up everything that pops into our mind. It is then up to you to decide which of these tips are relevant to your model.

Model build-up & pre-design

• Support foundations with a spring constant instead of soil layers.
  Soil layers is a non-linear element. Non-linear behaviour takes longer to calculate.
• Use supports that bear both tension and compression.
  No tension or no compression is a non-linear element. Non-linear behaviour takes longer to calculate.
• Avoid internal plates.
• Link load groups.
• * This tip makes a lot of difference *
  Every load group (whether it contains loads or not, whether if it’s included in the combination or not) takes up memory and increases the calculation time.
  So you need to delete unused load groups, even if they don’t contain loads. Note that deleting a load groups is not the same thing as deactivating the load group (= putting an ✘ before the load group in this dialog ). Your really need to delete the load group.
• Define dead loads in the same load group(s) as much as possible.
  Sub load cases for a dead load is a fun feature, but following on from the previous tip, it is a memory consuming feature. We don’t recommend using a load group Dead loads containing 10 sub load cases.
• You can generate up to 24 wind load cases, but not all of them are always relevant.
  The number of relevant wind load cases depends on the roof shape and the number of interal pressure coefficients you have. Check this article for more info.
• Use a coarse mesh size.
• Use Diamonds 2024 (or more recent). Improvements were made in this version to decrease the calculation time.
• Do a first order calculation without global imperfections.
  A second order calculation and global imperfections are both a non-linear behaviour. Non-linear behaviour takes longer to calculate.
• Use a filter during the unity check .
  

During final design

• Avoid internal plates.
• Link load groups.
• Use a suitable mesh size. One that relates to the size of the model.
• * This tip makes a lot of difference *
  Every load group (whether it contains loads or not, whether if it’s included in the combination or not) takes up memory and increases the calculation time.
  So you need to delete unused load groups, even if they don’t contain loads. Note that deleting a load groups is not the same thing as deactivating the load group (= putting an ✘ before the load group in this dialog). Your really need to delete the load group.
• Define dead loads in the same load group(s) as much as possible.
  Sub load cases for a dead load is a fun feature, but following on from the previous tip, it is a memory consuming feature. We don’t recommend using a load group Dead loads containing 10 sub load cases.
• You can generate up to 24 wind load cases, but not all of them are always relevant.
  The number of relevant wind load cases depends on the roof shape and the number of interal pressure coefficients you have. Check this article for more info.
• Use Diamonds 2024 (or more recent). Improvements were made in this version to decrease the calculation time.
• Keep in mind that you can perform a design calculation ( or ) for parts of the model.
  The unity check () can result in memory issues for larger models (or medium model with a lot of ULS combinations).
  You can work around this, by selecting for example 1/3 of the model and performing the unity check on that segment. You hide the calculated part using the button . Then you select the next 1/3 fo the model and perform the unity check. And so on.

• Consider this frame-like structure in which the plates have a Y-coordinate of 3,0m.
  
• Do the elastic analysis and calculate the reinforcement .
• Select both plates and define some practical reinforcement .
  
  This tool allows you to define reinforcement zones that stretch over multiple plates. A reinforcement zones, doesn’t necessarily be defined within the boundaries of one plate. For that reason, the position of the pratical reinforcement is assigned to a point in the 3D environment, not to a certain plate itself. This method has one down side:
• Select the plates (and their boundaries) and move the plate for example 0,3cm up.
  
• Redo the elastic analysis, calculate the reinforcement and open the practical reinforcement . The practical reinforcement seems to be removed.
  It’s not really removed, it’s just on a different level. The practical reinforcement was assigned to a point with a Y coordinate of 3,0m. While the plates now have a Y coordinate that equals 3,3m.
  For that reason, you should be finished editing the height and position of the walls before defining pratical reinforcement.

Notes:

• If the plates were moved back to Y= 3,0m, the practical reinforcement would be visible again. But at the moment, there’s not work around to move the pratical reinforcement together with de relevent surface.
• For plates/floors the Y-coordinate is relevant when defining practical reinforcement. Analogously, the X and Z coordinate are relevant for walls.

For example: a continuous beam subjected to its self weight.

• When you select one beam and open the Results Table , the table shows the results in each mesh node.
  
• When you select multiple beams and open the Results Table, the tabel show s the variation of the results in the selected elements. The lowest and highest values are seperated by a ~.