“In the modern era, the demand for safe and efficient structures has significantly increased, particularly in transportation industries such as automotive, railways, and aviation. Thin-walled structures, especially those made of polymers, have emerged as an innovative solution for impact energy absorption,” Dony explained in his presentation.
Dony developed and optimized these structures in his dissertation titled “Development of Multi-Cell Thin-Walled Polymer Tubes as Impact Energy Absorbing Structures.” His research employed both experimental and numerical approaches. Multi-cell tubes made of polymers such as PLA, nylon, and wood were fabricated using 3D printing technology. Various cell configurations, including cross, equal, and unequal shapes, were tested to evaluate crashworthiness parameters such as Specific Energy Absorption (SEA) and Crush Force Efficiency (CFE).
“The Taguchi optimization method and ANOVA were used to evaluate the effects of printing parameters (wall thickness, temperature, printing speed) on tube performance. Heat treatment and resin coating were also applied to enhance the strength and stiffness of the structures,” Dony elaborated.
The results of Dony’s research demonstrated that filament materials and multi-cell shapes significantly influenced SEA and CFE. The Taguchi and ANOVA designs successfully optimized SEA and CFE values and identified the dominant factors affecting crashworthiness performance. Heat treatment significantly enhanced the performance of the 3D-printed thin-walled multi-cell tubes. The optimal heat treatment parameters were determined using the Taguchi and ANOVA methods. The study identifies new prospects for improving thin-walled multi-cell structures with higher energy absorption capabilities, potentially enhancing passenger safety and reinforcing transportation infrastructure.
“This research opens new opportunities in the development of lighter and more efficient energy-absorbing components for vehicles and transportation infrastructure. These structures have the potential to improve passenger safety and reduce damage impacts during accidents,” said Dony.
The research findings were presented during the open doctoral promotion session chaired by Prof. Dr. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., with Prof. Dr. Ir. R. Danardono Agus Sumarsono, DEA., PE., as the main promoter, and Jos Istiyanto, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., and Farohaji Kurniawan, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., as co-promoters. The examination committee included Prof. Ir. Jamasri, Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN Eng., Prof. Dr. Ario Sunar Baskoro, S.T., M.T., M.Eng., Prof. Dr. Ir. Gandjar Kiswanto, M.Eng., Prof. Dr. Ir. Wahyu Nirbito, MSME., and Dr.-Ing. Ridho Irwansyah, S.T., M.T.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
