Coupled approach for flatness prediction in cold rolling of thin strip

Abstract The paper presents a predictive model of the flatness defects, which appear during rolling of thin plates, the origin of which is the roll stack thermo-elastic deformation. The combination of the elastic deflection, the thermal crown and the roll grinding crown results in a non-parallel bite, and if the deformed roll transverse profile is not an affinity of the incoming strip profile, differential elongation results and induces high stresses in the outgoing strip. The latter, combined with the imposed strip tension force, result in a net post-bite stress field which may be sufficiently compressive locally to promote buckling. A variety of non-developable shapes may result, generally occurring as waviness (centre waves, wavy edges, quarter-buckles, etc.). This problem is most of the time addressed in a decoupled way, i.e. as a post-processing of the residual stresses computed by a strip rolling model; the present paper on the contrary describes a fully coupled approach of in-bite plastic deformation and post-bite buckling. For this purpose, a simple buckling criterion has been introduced in a FEM model of strip and roll deformation, Lam3/Tec3; its implementation is documented in details. The capabilities and limits of the present approach are described and discussed. Characterised by its coupled approach, it is primarily devoted to cases where on-line (under tension) manifested defects occur. It is shown that the impact of the post-bite, post-buckled stress field on the in-bite stress and strain fields is quite small in the cases investigated; however, subtle changes appear in the velocity field at bite exit, and this is sufficient to transform completely the post-bite stress field, which is found in much better agreement with measurements if such a coupled treatment is used.