LAP Project Research Presented at the ASES 2nd International Congress of Scientific Studies (25.09.2026)
25.09.2026

Selin Çelik, an undergraduate student in the Department of Automotive Engineering at Atılım University, presented research conducted within our department's LAP project at the ASES 2nd International Congress of Scientific Studies, held on 25–27 September 2026 at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University.

The study, entitled “4D-Printed PCTG Cellular Energy Absorbers for Automotive Applications: Shape Memory, Energy Absorption and Reusability,” was prepared by Selin Çelik, Sezin Selamoğlu, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ali Fallah as a scientific output of the internally funded research project ATÜ-LAP-2526-16, “4D-Printed Smart Energy Absorbers for Automotive.”

The presented research investigated the potential of 4D-printed PCTG cellular structures as reusable energy absorbers for automotive applications. Six cellular architectures—including Diamond, Gyroid, and Schwarz TPMS structures, as well as Re-entrant, Chiral, and Bistable configurations—were experimentally evaluated under repeated compression and thermal recovery cycles. Their specific energy absorption, shape-recovery capability, and reusability were examined.

The results demonstrated the strong shape-recovery capability of the PCTG structures, with several configurations achieving nearly complete geometric recovery following thermal activation. The findings also highlighted that assessing the reusability of smart cellular structures requires consideration not only of shape recovery but also of the retention of energy-absorption and load-carrying capabilities after repeated use.

This study represents one of the scientific outputs of the successfully completed ATÜ-LAP-2526-16, “4D-Printed Smart Energy Absorbers for Automotive” project, led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Ali Fallah as Principal Investigator (PI). The project focused on developing lightweight, smart, and reusable energy-absorbing structures with potential applications in future automotive safety systems.

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Prof. Dr. Hasan U. Akay, Head of the Department of Automotive Engineering, for his valuable support and encouragement throughout the project and related research activities.