Modeling and Simulation of Mass Flow of Steel Plate/Slab during Hot Rolling

The ability to predict mass flow behavior during hot rolling is essential to product quality. In this study, viscoplastic models of the steels from SSAB and U.S. Steel were developed based on experimental stress-strain curves. A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model was built to simulate a reverse plate hot rolling and a hot strip rolling process. For plate rolling, a seven pass schedule was simulated. The plastic strain distributions during rolling were investigated. The results show that the surface of the plate has larger plastic strain than the center. In the case of hot strip rolling, the simulation predicts that material flows from the sides to the top and bottom surfaces during edging. The top and bottom surfaces were then rolled flat. Details of the material flow and strain distributions during edging and rolling are presented in this paper