Coupled Thermo-Mechanical FEM Simulation of Multi-Pass Vertical-Horizontal Rolling Process

The governing equations and the finite element model for the coupled thermo-mechanical multi-pass vertical-horizontal rolling process of a zircaloy strip are established. Considering the temperature-dependent and strain rate-dependent constitutive relation of zircaloy, the numerical simulation of the three-pass V-H rolling process is realized by the coupled thermo-mechanical dynamic explicit finite element method. The computational results such as the plastic deformation, the size variations and the temperature variations in three passes are discussed. The research results indicate that edging by vertical roller benefits improving the sizes of the strip and the temperature variations are rather obvious during the three-pass hot rolling process. The research provides experience and foundations for the FEM simulation of the hot rolling process of composite slabs for nuclear fuel elements.