Buckling analysis of a heated steel strip in a continuous annealing furnace

Thermal buckling is a problem that arises in the operation of continuous an nealing lines for thin steel strips. In this paper finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out on the furnace buckling of thin steel strips. The resu lts obtained agree very well with observations of furnace buckling made in actual operation. It has been quantitatively shown that the main cause of f urnace buckling is the combined effect of high heating temperature coupled with line tension on a strip. This finding is based on the comparison of nu merical results with the experimental data collected at a continuous anneal ing line of Armco Ashland Works in Texas. The analysis has revealed the nee d for accurate control and monitoring of annealing line heating system in o rder to avoid buckling of thin steel strips. In addition, the results prese nted, herein, could be useful in the design of a heating system that ensure s buckling free operation.