Investigasi Kekuatan Rangka Mesin Briket Arang Menggunakan Metode Finite Element Method dengan Perbandingan Material Structural Steel dan Stainless Steel

Abstract

The frame of the charcoal briquette machine is a primary structural component that receives loading during the operational process, so structural strength analysis is required to ensure the safety of its use. This study evaluates and compares the structural response of a charcoal briquette machine frame fabricated from Structural Steel and Stainless Steel. The analysis focuses on normal stress, normal strain, and safety factor using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The three-dimensional frame model was created using SolidWorks and analyzed in the Static Structural module with load variations of 9,5–36,5 N, then validated through experimental testing on the Normal Stress and Normal Strain parameters. The simulation results indicate that Structural Steel and Stainless Steel exhibited maximum normal stress values of 27.138 MPa and 27.139 MPa, respectively, while the corresponding maximum normal strain values were recorded at 1.32 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.37 × 10⁻⁴. The validation results show a Normal Stress error percentage of 0,37 – 0,59% for Structural Steel and 0,55 – 0,59% for Stainless Steel, as well as Normal Strain errors of 0,47 – 1,17% and 0,66 – 0,79%, indicating a very good level of agreement between the numerical simulation and experimental testing. The Safety Factor values obtained were 9,21 for Structural Steel and 7,63 for Stainless Steel, indicating that both materials remain in a safe condition against the applied loading. Based on these results, Structural Steel provides better structural performance because it produces lower strain and a higher Safety Factor, and is therefore recommended as the material for the charcoal briquette machine frame.