Analisis Pengaruh Variasi Elektroda Pengelasan Smaw Terhadap Sifat Mekanik Sambungan Las Pada Baja Astm A36

Welding is a crucial metal joining process in the manufacturing, construction, and heavy equipment repair industries. One of the most widely used methods is Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), chosen for its flexibility, ease of use, and low operational cost. The quality of welds is influenced by various factors, including the type of electrode and the welding current applied. This study employs the Taguchi method with an L9 orthogonal array to optimize the welding process and identify the most significant parameters affecting the tensile strength of welded joints in ASTM A36 steel. The electrode variations used include E7018, E6013, and E308, with currents of 115A, 120A, and 125A. The results show that the combination of E6013 electrode with 120A current produced the highest tensile strength of 53.79 kN, while the combination of E308 electrode with 125A current resulted in the lowest tensile strength of 46.47 kN. Overall, the E308 electrode provided the highest average tensile strength (50.37 kN), followed by E6013 (49.77 kN) and E7018 (49.49 kN). The 120A current was found to be the most optimal compared to the other current levels. These findings confirm that the proper selection of electrode type and current significantly affects the weld quality, microstructure, and mechanical strength.