<![CDATA[ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengoptimalkan kombinasi diameter elektroda dan kuat arus pada proses pengelasan Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) terhadap baja karbon rendah dengan menggunakan metode Taguchi. Fokus utama penelitian adalah menganalisis pengaruh parameter pengelasan terhadap nilai tegangan bending sambungan las serta hubungan antara variasi arus dan diameter elektroda terhadap deformasi plastis pada uji bending. Desain eksperimen menggunakan ortogonal array L9 (3²) untuk dua faktor, masing-masing tiga level. Hasil uji bending menunjukkan bahwa kombinasi optimal terdapat pada arus 110A dan elektroda berdiameter 3,2 mm. Nilai tegangan bending tertinggi tercapai sebesar 420 MPa, sedangkan deformasi plastis paling rendah tercatat pada kombinasi yang sama. Analisis ANOVA menunjukkan bahwa kuat arus memiliki kontribusi paling signifikan terhadap hasil bending dibandingkan diameter elektroda. Kata kunci: smaw, baja karbon rendah, taguchi, tegangan bending, deformasi plastis. ABSTRACT Optimization of Electrode and Welding Current Combination in SMAW of Low Carbon Steel Using the Taguchi Method to Enhance Bending Stress and Analyze Plastic Deformation. This study aims to optimize the combination of electrode diameter and welding current in the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process for low carbon steel using the Taguchi method. The main focus of the research is to analyze the effects of welding parameters on the bending stress of the weld joints and to determine the relationship between current and electrode diameter variations with plastic deformation in the bending test. The experimental design employed an L9 (3²) orthogonal array for two factors, each at three levels. The bending test results indicated that the optimal combination was achieved at a current of 110A and an electrode diameter of 3.2 mm. The highest bending stress recorded was 420 MPa, while the lowest plastic deformation was also observed at the same combination. ANOVA analysis showed that welding current had the most significant influence on the bending performance compared to electrode diameter. Keywords: smaw, low carbon steel, taguchi, bending stress, plastic deformation.]]>
