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

The predictive capabilities of a one-dimensional model, a rigid-plasti c finite-element and an elastoplastic finite-element solution of the f lat rolling process are compared. It is found that the rigid-plastic s olution gives almost identical rates of deformation and strain- and te mperature-fields as the elastoplastic solution. The roll-separating fo rces and roll torques are also close and compare well to the measured data. Stress fields predicted by the rigid-plastic model are less accu rate than those generated by the elastoplastic method. The one-dimensi onal model cannot predict the stress and the velocity fields with conf idence. However, it is capable of calculating the roll-separating forc es and the roll torques with good accuracy, provided that strip rollin g is considered. The information provided may be helpful to engineers in the steel industry in deciding which model should be used under whi ch set of circumstances.