Stochastic Method to Predict Effects of Roll Grinding Deviations on Sheet Flatness in Cold Rolling

Industrial measurements of the diameter profiles of work-rolls used in cold sheet rolling are applied with a stochastic roll-stack model to better understand how residual error from the roll grinding process affects the rolled sheet flatness quality. Roll diameter measurements taken via a non-contact, optical device on new, warm, and worn work-rolls show that the diameter deviations vary along the roll lengths, across roll samples, and at different operational states, suggesting a multi-dimensional random field problem. Studies are conducted for a 4-high rolling mill with 301 stainless steel sheet to investigate the reliability in achieving target flatness considering the work-roll diameter random field. Also investigated is the sensitivity of the flatness reliability to roll diameter deviations at different locations along the roll lengths, and for the three operational states (newly machined, warm, and worn following several passes). The results lead to several key findings. Foremost, it is shown that an assumption of statistical independence among the residual grinding errors at different roll axis locations is improper. Further, it is demonstrated that, for the measured grinding error correlation patterns, the roll diameter deviations external to the roll/sheet contact region play an important role in contributing to flatness defects within the sheet, and that these influences vary according to the roll operational state (new, warm, worn). The presented stochastic model and applied measurement data thus provide for a new understanding into how roll grinding performance influences dimensional quality in the sheet rolling process.

Efficient 3D Model to Predict Time History of Structural Dynamics in Cold Rolling Mills

Introduced is a new physics-based 3D mathematical model capable of efficiently predicting time histories of the nonlinear structural dynamics in cold rolling mills used to manufacture metal strip and sheet. The described model allows for prediction of transient strip thickness profiles, contact force distributions, and roll-stack deformations due to dynamic disturbances. Formulation of the new 3D model is achieved through combination of the highly-efficient simplified-mixed finite element method with a Newmark-beta direct time integration approach to solve the system of differential equations that governs motion of the roll-stack. In contrast to prior approaches to predict structural dynamics in cold rolling, the presented method abandons several simplifying assumptions and restrictions, including 1D or 2D linear lumped parameter analyses, vertical symmetry, continuous and constant contact between the rolls and strip, as well as inability to model cluster-type mill configurations and accommodate typical profile/flatness control mechanisms used in industry. Following spatial and temporal convergence studies of the undamped step response, and validation of the damped step response, the new model is demonstrated for a 4-high mill equipped with both work-roll bending and work-roll crown, a 6-high mill with continuously-variable-crown (CVC) intermediate rolls, and finally a complex 20-high cluster mill. Solution times on a single computing processor for the damped 4-high and 20-high case studies are just 0.37 seconds and 3.38 seconds per time step, respectively.

Numerical Analysis of Edge Cracking in High-Silicon Steel during Cold Rolling with 3D Fracture Locus

In this study, a 3D fracture locus of high-silicon steel strip was constructed through a series of fracture tests with specimens of various shapes and corresponding finite element (FE) simulations of the fracture tests. A series of FE analyses coupled with the developed fracture locus was conducted, and the effect of the secondary roll-bending ratio (defined as L2/R2, where L2 and R2, respectively, denote the secondary work roll barrel length and the radius of the convex curvature of the work roll surface profile emulating positive roll bending) and the initial notch length on edge cracking in the strip during cold rolling was investigated. The results reveal that the 2D fracture locus that does not include the Lode angle parameter (varying between −0.81 and 0.72 during cold rolling) overestimates the edge cracking in the range of 13.1–22.2%. The effect of the initial notch length on the length of crack grown in the transverse direction of the strip during cold rolling is greatest when the ratio L2/R2 is 0.12.

Tempering effect on residual stress in bimetallic roll

In this study, tempering effect on the residual stress is studied after uniform heating–quenching and nonuniform heating–quenching for bimetallic work roll. Results for uniform heating treatment showed that the maximum stress at the center decreases by 68% from 396 MPa to 126 MPa after the first and second tempering. Results for nonuniform heating treatment showed that the maximum stress at the center decreases by 47% from 309 MPa to 165 MPa after the first and second tempering. It may be concluded that nonuniform heating–quenching and tempering are useful for reducing the central tensile stress preventing cracks at the roll surface.

Finding the Best Programmable PWM Pattern for Three-Level Active Front-Ends at 18-Pulse Connection

The existing publications on the analysis of power quality indicators in modern electric power supply systems are void of a comprehensive approach to improving these indicators in power systems by implementing multipulse connections. To the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to analyze current harmonic distortions in an 18-pulse connection of three-level active front-ends (AFE) featuring a programmed PWM. Raw data were obtained from, and current quality was analyzed for the power circuit of the main electric drive actuating the rolls in the rolling stand of a plate mill. The key feature of such circuitry is that the synchronous motor of each work roll is connected to the grid with an 18-pulse connection that uses three phase-shift transformers, where the phase shifts are 0° (delta/delta), 20° (delta/polygon) and −20° (delta/polygon). The circuitry connects three frequency converters (FC) with the AFEs in parallel. Phase-shift transformers were found to periodically overheat in the process. When overheating occurred, a programmed PWM voltage waveform was applied where harmonics 17 and 19 were eliminated. The goal and objectives were to analyze why the transformer would overheat and to find out how the issue could be addressed. The authors developed a simulation model of the research object in order to assess power quality parameters. Simulation results obtained in Matlab/Simulink were used to estimate the total harmonic distortions (THD) and individual harmonic factors for up to the 50th secondary transformer winding and grid harmonic with four different programmed AFE PWM voltage waveforms. The results helped find the best such waveform to prevent phase-shift transformers from overheating; one with harmonics 5, 7, 17 and 19 eliminated. The experimental and mathematical modeling results in the paper were confirmed by positive effects after industrial implementation of the system. Research performed directly on the operating equipment has been classified by the company and is not publicly available. These results are highly versatile and could be used in similar research on other circuitries to ensure the electromagnetic compatibility of nonlinear power-consuming devices.

Coupled Vibration Characteristics Analysis of Hot Rolling Mill with Structural Gap

It is important to study the vibration of rolling mills to improve the stability of rolling production. A dynamic rolling process model is established by considering the elastic recovery of the exit strip and the influence of multiroll equilibrium, and the accuracy of the model is verified by experimental data. On this basis, based on the distribution of friction force in the deformation zone, the rolling force and rolling torque are nonlinearized. In addition, a rolling mill structure model is established by considering the structure gap and a piecewise nonlinear horizontal-vertical-torsional vibration model of the rolling mill is established by combining the structure model and dynamic rolling process model. Finally, the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the work roll under different external excitation amplitude and the dynamic bifurcation characteristics of the work roll under different gaps are analyzed. The study indicates that, by reducing excitation amplitude and structure gap, the system vibration can be reduced. The research results can provide a theoretical reference for further exploration of the coupling vibration of hot rolling mills.

Stress due to interfacial slip causing sleeve fracture in shrink-fitted work roll

The rolls are classified into two types; one is a single-solid type, and the other is a shrink-fitted construction type consisting of a sleeve and a shaft. The bimetallic work rolls are widely used in the roughing stands of hot rolling stand mills. Regarding a shrink-fitted construction type, the interfacial slip sometimes appears between the shaft and the shrink-fitted sleeve. This interfacial slip can be regarded as the relative displacement between the sleeve and the shaft. In this paper, the stress due to the interfacial slip is studied because the stress may cause the sleeve fracture. It is found that the stress in the shrink-fitted surface is slightly decreased with increasing number of rotations [Formula: see text]. Therefore, the stress obtained by the simulation at [Formula: see text] can be used to estimate the fatigue strength.