How to define deck and joist beam in the Diaphragm Design module

Summary

Defining deck and joist beam properties allows PROFIS Engineering to accurately model the diaphragm system and evaluate the load‑transfer behavior between the deck panels and their supporting members. These inputs determine how shear forces are distributed, how sidelap and support fasteners are checked, and how the diaphragm performs under design loading.

Prerequisites

Make sure you:

Are logged in to your PROFIS Engineering account
Have opened the Diaphragm Design module

If needed, refer to the article How to access the Diaphragm Design module in PROFIS Engineering .

Step‑by‑step Instructions

Open the Areas tab
In the Diaphragm Design workspace, navigate to the Area tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
This section is where you define diaphragm geometry, deck properties, and joist/beam support conditions.
Create or open a diaphragm area
- Click the + icon to add a new diaphragm area
- Or expand an existing area (e.g., Area 1)
- Or click on the three dots next to an existing area 1 (e.g., Area 1) and select Duplicate Area, to duplicate it
You can rename the area using the Area Name field.
Define deck properties
- Select the deck type
  Under Deck Properties → Deck Type, choose one of the following:
  - Steel roof deck
  - Concrete filled deck
- Select the deck panel
  Use the Deck Panel dropdown to select the deck profile and material grade.
  This defines the corrugation geometry and mechanical properties of the deck.
- Select the panel type
  Under Panel Type, choose:
  - Nestable – Panels overlap when installed
  - Interlocking – Panels mechanically interlock
  This selection affects sidelap connection behavior.
- Select the panel width
  Choose the Panel Width from the dropdown.
Define joist / beam properties
- Select support construction type
  Under Joist Beam Properties → Support Construction, select:
  - Bar Joists
  - Beams
- Define joist or beam spacing
  Under Joist Spacing, choose whether spacing is defined by:
  - Area – Same spacing across the entire diaphragm area
  - Zone – Different spacing per zone
  Enter:
  - Joist / Beam thickness
  - Joist / Beam spacing (applies only when Area is selected)
Define sidelap connector configuration
- Select the definition method
  Under Definition of Sidelap Connectors, choose:
  - By sidelap connector spacing
  - By number of sidelap connectors
- Enter sidelap connector values
  Depending on the selected method, input:
  - Spacing From / To / Increment, or
  - Number of sidelap connectors From / To / Incremen
Review the 3D visual representation
As deck and joist parameters are defined, the viewport updates to visually represent:
1. Deck orientation
2. Panel layout
3. Support spacing
This helps verify that your inputs reflect the intended construction layout.