Theory and Methodology of Rail Vehicle Design

Focusing on the design cognition and methodological system of rail transit systems from planning and equipment to operational services, this research explores innovative design pathways under complex constraints. Based on design science, it integrates theoretical tools such as human factors engineering, modular architecture, resilient design, and safety redundancy to establish a core knowledge framework for rail transit design. Attention is given to the formal expression of design methods and operationalizable processes, including user behavior modeling, scenario task analysis, multi-objective trade-off decision-making, and system integration verification. Through case simulation and prototype experimentation, design guidelines and evaluation systems are distilled for different types of rail transit (metro, light rail, suburban railway), promoting a shift in rail transit design from experience-driven to theory-driven approaches.