Staad question: difference between surface element, plate element, and shell element?

Firstly I would like to know from you as to where did you find shell element in Staad?

Now answer to your query:

plate can be either three noded or four noded, surface can be up to eight noded.

Plate will have to be meshed through a different command, surface has the provision for auto meshing.

All the three or four corners of plate can be of different thickness, the surface has to be of uniform thickness.

The out put of plate analysis gives result for out of plane moment and shear and designs accordingly, The output of surface analysis gives result for in plane moment and shear as required for shear wall.

Firstly I would like to know from you as to where did you find shell element in Staad?

Now answer to your query:

plate can be either three noded or four noded, surface can be up to eight noded.

Plate will have to be meshed through a different command, surface has the provision for auto meshing.

All the three or four corners of plate can be of different thickness, the surface has to be of uniform thickness.

The out put of plate analysis gives result for out of plane moment and shear and designs accordingly, The output of surface analysis gives result for in plane moment and shear as required for shear wall.