Authors: Sathiyaraj Chinnasamy
Source: REST Journal on Emerging trends in Modelling and Manufacturing (article, 2025-12-01)
Field: Materials Science — Materials Chemistry

A Decision-Support System for Railway Vehicle Material Selection Based on the WASPAS Method Due to the increased focus on energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and improved performance in the rail transportation industry, the choice of lightweight materials for railway vehicles has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Numerous benefits of using lightweight materials include less energy use, increased cargo capacity, improved operational efficiency, and improved safety.Locomotives, passenger trains and goods waggons have all historically been constructed from common materials like steel and cast iron. However, the search for substitute materials that can offer the desired properties while lowering the overall weight of the vehicles has been pushed by the growing demand for faster speeds, greater ranges, and more effective operations. In a variety of industries, including aerospace and automotive, the use of lightweight materials, such as aluminium alloys, composite materials, and cutting-edge high-strength steels, has demonstrated encouraging outcomes. Excellent mechanical qualities, high strength-to-weight ratios, corrosion resistance, and improved structural integrity are all characteristics of these materials. By using them, railway vehicles may significantly reduce their weight without sacrificing performance or safety. In the subject of transportation engineering, the choice of lightweight materials for rail vehicles has important research implications. By increasing energy efficiency, lowering emissions, and enhancing overall performance, the use of lightweight materials in railway vehicles has the potential to completely transform the sector. By addressing the urgent issues of environmental impact and energy consumption, this research helps to design sustainable and effective railway systems. This study paves the way for the design and construction of sophisticated, lightweight railway vehicles that can meet the demands of modern transportation while reducing their environmental impact by examining the selection criteria, performance evaluation, and application of lightweight materials. This study also offers valuable insights for engineers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. The Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method is a valuable tool for decision-makers facing complex decision-making challenges. By integrating the strengths of the weighted sum and weighted product methods, WASPAS provides a comprehensive evaluation framework that considers multiple criteria and their relative importance.The ability to assign weights to criteria allows decision-makers to reflect their preferences and priorities in the evaluation process. This ensures that important criteria have a significant impact on the overall assessment of alternatives.Furthermore, the inclusion of both additive and multiplicative components in the aggregation process enhances the sophistication of the evaluation. The weighted sum score captures the cumulative performance of alternatives, while the weighted product score considers the potential synergies and interactions among criteria. This comprehensive approach enables decision-makers to make more informed and nuanced decisions.WASPAS offers a planned and methodical approach to decision-making, guiding decision-makers through a structured evaluation process. By providing a thorough analysis of alternatives, WASPAS helps decision-makers navigate the complexities of multi-criteria decision-making and select the most suitable option.Overall, the WASPAS method is a valuable tool that empowers decision-makers to make informed choices by considering a variety of factors and their relative importance. Its systematic approach and comprehensive evaluation framework make it a practical solution for addressing complex decision-making difficulties. Alternative parameters taken as Dual Phase, DP600, Transformation Induced Plasticity, TRIP700,Twinning Induced Plasticity, TWIP,Aluminium, Al6005‑T6,Aluminium, Al6082‑T6,Porous Structure (Al—Closed cell). Evaluation parameters taken as "Density(kg/m3 )", "Yield Strength(Y.S.),MPa", "Tensile strength(T.S.),MPa", "Youngs Modulus(GPa)", "PriceUS$/kg" , "Corrosion Resistance" This demonstrates the rank of the data set Twinning Induced Plasticity, TWIP,is on 1st Rank, Transformation Induced Plasticity, TRIP700 is on 2nd Rank, DualPhase, DP600 is on 3rd Rank, Aluminium, Al6082 T6 is on 4th Rank, Aluminium, Al6005 T6 is on 5th Rank and Porous Structure (Al—Closed cell) is on 6th Rank. In conclusion, choosing lightweight materials for rail cars has many advantages, including lower energy use, higher cargo capacity, and better performance. Materials like aluminium alloys and composites offer the necessary strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and durability needed for railway applications, fostering efficiency and sustainability in the transportation industry. Train ; Material selection ; Energy consumption ; Aerospace ; Efficient energy use ; Truck ; Sustainable development ; Energy (signal processing) Material Selection and Properties ; Advanced Technologies and Applied Computing ; Smart Systems and Machine Learning