Simulation of plane strain rolling through a combined finite element-boundary element approach

This paper presents an innovative approach for analysing plane strain rolli ng. The proposed approach is based on a solution resulting from the combina tion of the finite element method with the boundary element method. The fin ite element method is used to perform the rigid-plastic numerical modelling of the workpiece allowing the estimation of the roll separating force, the rolling torque and the contact pressure along the surface of the rolls, wh ilst the boundary element method is applied for computing the elastic defor mation of the rolls and for obtaining the resulting distribution of stress. The combination of the two numerical methods is made using the finite elem ent solution of the contact pressure along the surface of the rolls to defi ne the boundary conditions to be applied on the elastic analysis of the rol ls. The validity of the proposed approach is discussed by comparing the the oretical predictions with experimental data found in the literature. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.