Parameter Optimization with Multi-criteria Decision-Making Methods in Rail Transport: A Case Study of Freight Wagon Bogie

The high safety factor expected from transport vehicles results in high costs. Moreover, the environmental and financial concerns in transport vehicle technology make the minimization of production factors obligatory. This causes a decision problem between high safety and production at low cost. In this study, modeling and analysis with multi-criteria decision-making methods for freight wagon bogie operating with high safety and minimum cost were aimed. The decision problem was created considering the factors of safety, manufacturability and cost for three different materials, and the most appropriate material combination was determined for the bogie construction. In data production for the decision factors, the application of computer-aided engineering and chemical content of the materials were taken into consideration. The real tonnage prices of the related material were used for the cost criterion. TOPSIS, VIKOR and SAW, which are among the multi-criteria decision-making methods, were used for the solution of the decision problem. Fishbone, Cronbach’s alpha and regression methods were used for quality and reliability analysis. It was found that the solutions obtained from the chosen models validate each other. Together with the concept of economy and computer-aided engineering applications, its successful applicability to decision problems developed for freight wagons and providing a solution to them is the originality of this paper. According to the methods, the ideal solution was found as the material S355 for the pivot, S235 for the carrier and the bolster. According to reliability analysis, the data produced were found statistically sufficient and significant (Adj. R-Sq’s obtained above 95%).