Keywords: technology selection, finite element analysis, lightweight, decision making, floor and roof panels, standardization, railway car body shell, light railways and trams.

Many railway car manufacturers make their floors and roofs from welded long aluminium extruded panels. Those critical car body shell elements are often of a different design depending on their size and type of frame, but the function is always the same. The purpose of this research paper is the selection of a one panel concept solution, which reduces weight and can be standardized in order to decrease development and manufacturing time. Evaluation of the panels is based on the finite element analysis of interface between panel and equipment, and also the analysis of the entire floor panels. The results present trade-offs between panels which need to be taken into account during the final selection. Trade-offs are determined between: the maximum load, stresses, displacement, tightness of connection, and weight. The finite element analysis was found to be a good tool for the selection and optimization of floor and roof panels when the design requirements are given.

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