What does the track parameter mean in staad.pro?

TRACK parameter is used to get detailed report of the project.

TRACK parameter have three values 0.0,1.0 & 2.0 and the default value is 0.0

For RC Beam Design:

 TRACK 0.0 = Critical moment will not be printed out with beam design report.
 TRACK 1.0 = Critical moment will be printed out with beam design report
 TRACK 2.0 = Print out required steel areas for all intermediate sections.
For RC Column Design:

 TRACK 0.0 = Prints out detailed design reports

 TRACK 1.0 = Prints out column interaction analysis results in addition
to TRACK 0.0 output.
 TRACK 2.0 = Prints out a schematic interaction diagram and intermediate
interaction values in addition to TRACK 2.0 results.

On what method does the STAAD.Pro work?

It works on finite element analysis method. In this it actually divides the whole structure
into n number of finite elements and then carry out the required forces or displacements
as per the given structure details.

What is the role of plate meshing in Staad Pro?

1. Engineers and scientists use finite element analysis (FEA) software to build predictive
computational models of real-world scenarios. The use of FEA software begins with a
computer-aided design (CAD) model that represents the physical parts being simulated
as well as knowledge of the material properties and the applied loads and constraints.
This information enables the prediction of real-world behavior, often with very high
levels of accuracy.

The accuracy that can be obtained from any FEA model is directly related to the finite
element mesh that is used. The finite element mesh is used to subdivide the CAD
model into smaller domains called elements, over which a set of equations are solved.
These equations approximately represent the governing equation of interest via a set of
polynomial functions defined over each element. As these elements are made smaller
and smaller, as the mesh is refined, the computed solution will approach the true
solution.

This process of mesh refinement is a key step in validating any finite element model and
gaining confidence in the software, the model, and the results
2. Meshing is useful for analysis. If you do not mess a plate element then in post
processing, plate stress will be show as zero. In other words, staad won't be able to
analyse it and give you the results.

When we create meshes, staad distributes the loads onto those smaller elements and is
able to analyse them and given proper stress analysis report for the plate element.

You can try to check this.

First analyse a plate element without meshing and check the plate stresses in post
processing. Then generate mesh and repeat the same. This time staad will show the
stresses.