An investigation on the roll force and torque fluctuations during hot strip rolling process

Abstract

Accurate prediction of the roll separating force and roll torque is critical to assuring the quality of the final product. Fluctuation of these parameters during the rolling process is even more important because of its effects on rolling setups, geometrical accuracy (especially flatness in strip rolling), and the uniformity of mechanical and microstructural properties of the rolled material. The main approach of the present study is a precision analysis of the roll force and roll torque and their instabilities during the rolling process. In doing so, a coupling multi-variable simulation model for hot strip rolling was built using non-linear thermo-viscoplastic finite element method. Fluctuations of roll force and torque about the steady-state operating point are derived and the effects of main process parameters such as rolling speed and strip reduction on these instabilities are investigated. To check the validity of the employed model, predicted results are compared with experimental data.