ANALYSIS OF THE FLAT-ROLLING PROCESS - ONE-DIMENSIONAL AND FINITE-ELEMENT MODELS

The predictive capabilities of a one-dimensional model, a rigid-plastic finite-element and an elastoplastic finite-element solution of the flat rolling process are compared. It is found that the rigid-plastic solution gives almost identical rates of deformation and strain- and temperature-fields as the elastoplastic solution. The roll-separating forces and roll torques are also close and compare well to the measured data. Stress fields predicted by the rigid-plastic model are less accurate than those generated by the elastoplastic method. The one-dimensional model cannot predict the stress and the velocity fields with confidence. However, it is capable of calculating the roll-separating forces and the roll torques with good accuracy, provided that strip rolling is considered. The information provided may be helpful to engineers in the steel industry in deciding which model should be used under which set of circumstances.