Research and Development Trend of Shape Control for Cold Rolling Strip

Shape is an important quality index of cold rolling strip. Up to now, many problems in the shape control domain have not been solved satisfactorily, and a review on the research progress in the shape control domain can help to seek new breakthrough directions. In the past 10 years, researches and applications of shape control models, shape control means, shape detection technology, and shape con- trol system have achieved significant progress. In the aspect of shape control models, the researches in the past improve the accuracy, speed and robustness of the models. The intelligentization of shape control models should be strengthened in the future. In the aspect of the shape control means, the researches in the past focus on the roll opti- mization, mill type selection, process optimization, local strip shape control, edge drop control, and so on. In the future, more attention should be paid to the coordination control of both strip shape and other quality indexes, and the refinement of control objective should be strengthened. In the aspects of shape detection technology and shape control system, some new types of shape detection meters and shape control systems are developed and have successfully indus- trial applications. In the future, the standardization of shape detection technology and shape control system should be promoted to solve the problem of compatibility. In general,the four expected development trends of shape control for cold roiling strip in the future are intelligentization, coordi- nation, refinement, and standardization. The proposed research provides new breakthrough directions for improv- ing shape quality.

Numerical Simulation of Temperature Field and Thermal Stress Field of Work Roll During Hot Strip Rolling

Based on the thermal conduction equations, the three-dimensional （3D） temperature field of a work roll was investigated using finite element method （FEM）. The variations in the surface temperature of the work roll during hot strip rolling were described, and the thermal stress field of the work roll was also analyzed. The results showed that the highest roll surface temperature is 593 ℃, and the difference between the minimum and maximum values of thermal stress of the work roll surface is 145.7 MPa. Furthermore, the results of this analysis indicate that temperature and thermal stress are useful parameters for the investigation of roll thermal fatigue and also for improving the quality of strip during rolling.

EVALUATION OF LUBRICANTS FOR COLD ROLLING ALUMINUM STRIPS

Various kinds of base oils were applied to cold rolling aluminum strips on a test mill for evaluationof the influences of these base oils,aromatics contents and viscosity of base oils on their lubricating performances and surface reflectivity of rolled strips at annealing. Results showed that low friction coefficient androlling force were obtained by using the normal paraffins,whereas their contaminations on the annealed stripsurface were the same as those of other saturated hydrocarbons. Aromatics in base oil affected the stir face reflectivity of annealed strips, but the decrease of aromatics in base oil was ineffective to improve rolled stripssurface quality when it is less than 1 %. Base oil viscosity has the great influences on the lubricating performances and surface reflectivity of annealed strips just in this condition.

FEM Analysis of Rolling Pressure Along Strip Width in Cold Rolling Process

Using 3-D elastic-plastic FEM, the cold strip rolling process in a 4-high mill was simulated. The elastic deformation of rolls, the plastic deformation of the strip, and the pressure between the work roll and the backup roll were taken into account. The distribution of rolling pressure along the strip width was obtained. Based on the simulation results, the peak value of rolling pressure and the location of the peak were analyzed under different rolling conditions. The effects of the roll bending force and the strip width on the distribution of rolling pressure along the width direction were determined.

Three-Di mensional Model for Strip Hot Rolling

A three-dimensional model for strip hot rolling was developed, in which the plastic deformation of strip, the thermal crown of rolls, roll deflection and flattening were calculated by rigid-plastic finite element method, finite difference method, influential function method and elastic finite element method respectively. The roll wear was taken into consideration. The model can provide detailed information such as rolling pressure distribution, contact pressure distribution between backup rolls and work rolls, deflection and flattening of work rolls, lateral distribution of strip thickness, and lateral distribution of front and back tensions. The finish rolling on a 1 450 mm hot strip mill was simulated.

Elastoplastic 3D Deformation and Stress Analysis of Strip Rolling

An elastoplastic method for analyzing the 3D deformation, stress and transverse distribution of tension stress during cold strip rolling is developed. The analysis is based on the elastoplastic variational principle in which a kinematically admissible velocity field is constructed with the lateral flow function as an unknown function. The stress distribution and volume strain distribution are obtained by solving the simultaneous equations formed by the longitudinal differential equation of equilibrium and constitutive equations. The lateral flow function is determined by minimizing the total energy dissipation rate. Experimental investigation was carried out on a reversible cold mill. The front tension stress distributions in cold rolled strips were measured by a multi roll segmented tension sensing shapemeter. The calculated results are in good agreement with the measured ones.

Lubrication in strip cold rolling process

A lubrication model was developed for explaining how to form an oil film inthe deformation zone, predicting the film thickness and determining the characteristics oflubrication in the strip rolling process, combined with the knowledge of hydrodynamic lubricationand rolling theories. Various mineral oils with viscosities from 0.032 to 1.6 Pa-s were used toobtain different film thicknesses in the strip cold rolling. Results from the experiment andcalculation show that the oil film forming in hydrodynamic lubrication is up to the bit angle and ahigher rolling speed or a higher rolling oil viscosity. The mechanism of mechanical entrainmentalways affects the film thickness that increases with the rolling oil viscosity increasing or thereduction rate decreasing in rolling.

Analysis of the thermal profile of work rolls in the hot strip rolling process

A 2-dimension axisymmetric model was developed by the finite-differencemethod, which can be used to predict the transient temperature field and thermal profile of workrolls in the hot strip rolling process. To demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the solutiondeveloped, the calculation results were compared with the production data of a 1700 mm hot striprolling mill and good agreement was found between them. The effect of strip width and roll shiftingon the thermal expansion of the work rolls was studied. It is found that the strip width has markedeffect on the efficient thermal crown. Initially, when the rolling strip changes from narrow towide, a bigger efficient thermal crown can be quickly achieved; afterwards, when the rolling stripchanges from wide to narrow, not only the influence of uneven wear can be reduced but also theexcessive efficient thermal crown can be avoided. It is also found that the work roll shifting has adeterminate but not obvious effect on the reduction of the efficient thermal crown, and will makethe strip shape unstable without being used properly.

Adaptive threading strategy based on rolling characteristics analysis in hot strip rolling

In order to improve the threading stability and the head thickness precision in tandem hot rolling process,an adaptive threading strategy was proposed.The proposed strategy was realized by the rolling characteristics analysis,and factors which affect the rolling force and the final thickness were determined and analyzed based on the influence coefficients calculation process.An objective function consisting of the influenced factors was founded,and the disturbance quantity was obtained by minimizing the function with the Nelder-Mead simplex method,and the proposed adaptive threading strategy was realized based on the calculation results.The adaptive threading strategy has been applied to one 7-stand hot tandem mill successfully,actual statistics data show that the predicted rolling force prediction in the range of ±5.0% is improved to 97.8%,the head thickness precision in the range of ±35 μm is improved to 98.5%,and the threading stability and the head thickness precision are enhanced to a high level.

Prediction of Rolling Load in Hot Strip Mill byInnovations Feedback Neural Networks

Because the structure of the classical mathematical model of rolling load is simple, even with the self-adapting technology, it is difficult to accommodate the increasing dimensional accuracy. Motivated by this fact, an Innovations Feedback Neural Networks （IFNN） was presented based on the idea of Kalman prediction. The neural networks used the Back Propagation （BP） algorithm and applied it to the prediction of rolling load in hot strip mill. The theoretical results and the off-line simulation show that the prediction capability of IFNN is better than that of normal BP networks, namely, for the prediction of the rolling load in hot strip mill, the prediction precision of IFNN is higher than that of normal BP networks. Finally, a relative complete rolling load prediction system was developed on Windows 2003/XP platform using the OOP programming method and the SQL server2000 database. With this sys- tem, the rolling load of a 1700 strip mill was calculated, and the prediction results obtained correspond well with the field data. It shows that IFNN is valid for rolling load prediction.

Transverse Distributions of Front and Back Tension Stresses in Cold Strip Rolling

In this paper,such a new lateral displacement function is proposed that the lateral flow velocity is con- tinuous at the entry and the exit of deformation zone.A new kind of finite strip method—the third power B-spline finite strip method—is put forward to simulate strip rolling process.Front and back tension stresses are formulated.The computed results of the transverse distributions of the front and back tension stresses are close to the experimental results.The paper lays a foundation for further analysing the three-dimensional stresses and deformations of strip rolling.

MENDED GENETIC BP NETWORK AND APPLICATION TO ROLLING FORCE PREDICTION OF 4-STAND TANDEM COLD STRIP MILL

In order to make good use of the ability to approach any function of BP (backpropagation) network and overcome its local astringency, and also make good use of the overallsearch ability of GA (genetic algorithms), a proposal to regulate the network's weights using bothGA and BP algorithms is suggested. An integrated network system of MGA (mended genetic algorithms)and BP algorithms has been established. The MGA-BP network's functions consist of optimizing GAperformance parameters, the network's structural parameters, performance parameters, and regulatingthe network's weights using both GA and BP algorithms. Rolling forces of 4-stand tandem cold stripmill are predicted by the MGA-BP network, and good results are obtained.

Off-line Simulation of PFC for Hot Rolling Strip

In order to improve the quality of the strip for the hot continuous rolling, the high accuracy set-up control must be applied to production. In the paper, we analyze the RFC (profile and flatness control) system and simulate the set-up process. Calculation results are in agreement to the actual measurements. It is the basis on the developing model.

Analysis of the cause of crack in cold rolling of QSn6.5-0.1 strip

In order to know the cause of cracks in cold rolling of QSn6.5 0.1 copper alloy strip, a lot of experiments and analysis were done. The microstructure changes of QSn6.5 0.1 were investigated by means of metallurgical microscope. The morphology of cracks and surface defects were examined using scanning electron microscope. Macroscopic residual stresses produced in every process during manufacturing in the QSn6.5 0.1 strip were measured by X ray diffraction method and hole drilling method. The results show that the cracks in the QSn6.5 0.1 cold rolling strip were caused due to the derivation of metallurgical defects, such as SnO 2, S, fine looses,the inverse segregation unable to clear up when milling, and the accumulation of all kinds of resi dual stresses. When the accumulation of the residual stress reaches the material′s breaking strength, the cracks will be generated. Several measures to avoid the development of these kinds of cracks were put forward, such as: controlling the casting technology, improving homogenization annealing procedure (680 ℃/7 h) and milling quality(using the second milling when necessary), working out a more reasonable rolling technology to ensure intermediate annealing in time.

Complete Mill Simulation of the Rolling Process of 1660 mm Hot Strip Continuous Mills

The three-dimensional plastic deformations of strip are analyzed using the stream surface strip element method, the elastic deformations of rolls are analyzed using the influence coefficient method, the analyzing and computing model of shape and crown of 4-high mill was established by combining them, and the rolling process of 1660 mm hot strip continuous mills was simulated. The simulated results tally well with the experimental results. The modei and the method for simulation of shape analysis and control of hot strip mills were provided.

Dynamic characteristics of cold rolling mill and strip based on flatness and thickness control in rolling process

The dynamic model of cold rolling mill based on strip flatness and thickness integrated control was proposed,containing the following sub-models:the rolling process model,the dynamic model of rolls along axial direction,and the compensation model.Based on the rule of volume flow rate,the dynamic rolling process model was built.The work roll and backup roll were taken as elastic continuous bodies,the effect of shear and moment of inertia were taken into consideration,and then the dynamic model of rolls was built.The two models were coupled together,and the dynamic model of rolling mill was built.In the dynamic model,the thermal expansion of the rolls,the wear of the rolls and other related parameters can not be considered.In order to compensate the dynamic model,the coupled static model of rolls and strip was applied.Then,according to the inner relationship of these models,the dynamic model and the compensation model were coupled,and the dynamic model of rolling mill based on the strip flatness and thickness integrated control was built.The dynamic simulation of the rolling process was made,and the dynamic thickness and the dynamic flatness information were obtained.This model not only provides a theory basis for the virtual rolling,but also provides a platform for the application of advanced control theory.

Effect of Load Distribution on Strip Crown in Hot Strip Rolling

In order to establish precision model, a software to calculate the strip crown of four-high hot rolling mill was developedby using affecting function method according to the strip crown calculation theory. The effect of work roll diameter,unit width rolling load, roll bending force, work roll crown, initial strip crown and reduction, etc, on load distributioneffect rate was simulated by using the software. The results show that the load distribution effect rate increaseswith the increase of strip width, work roll diameter, unit width rolling load, roll bending force, work roll crown,initial strip crown and reduction. Based on the simulation results, base value of load distribution effect rate andfitting coefficients of six power polynomial of load distribution effect rate modification coefficient were determinedconsidering all of the above parameters. A simplified mathematical model for calculating load distribution effect ratewas established.

Prediction of Rolling Load, Recrystallization Kinetics, and Microstructure During Hot Strip Rolling

The recrystallization kinetics and grain size models were developed for the C Mn and niobium containing steels to describe the metallurgical phenomenon such as softening, grain growth, and strain accumulation. Based on the recrystallization kinetics equations, the mean flow stress and the rolling load of each pass were predicted and the optimum rolling schedule was proposed for hot strip rolling. The austenite grain refinement is associated with the addition of niobium, the decrease of starting temperature of finish rolling, and the reduction of finished thickness. The mean flow stress curve with a continuous rising characteristic can be usually observed in the finish rolling of niobium containing steel, which is formed as a result of the heavy incomplete softening and strain accumulation. The predic ted rolling loads are in good agreement with the measured ones.

Study and application of crown feedback control in hot strip rolling

Crown feedback control is one part of the automatic shape control （ASC） system. On the basis of large simulation researches conducted, a linear crown feedback control model was put forward and applied in actual strip rolling. According to its successful op- eration in the ASP 1700 hot strip mill of Angang Group for one year and also from the statistical results of several crown measurements, it can be definitely said that this control model is highly effective and shows stable performance. The control effectiveness of different gauges of strips with the feedback control is found to increase by 10%-30% compared with that without feedback control.

Effect of Deformation between Stands on the Strip Shape in Hot Rolling

A theoretical model about the secondary deformation is developed by the combination of analytical and experimental approaches. A system simulation based on the model is completed to predict the strip profile after the interstand deformation. On the other hand, comprehensive experiments and quantitative comparisons are made to calibrate the model for a wide variety of products. As a result, the correction of the model has been verified by the actual rolling data from production mill and it is helpful to improve the strip shape control.