Effect of roller table level on vertical bending of the leading edge in asymmetric thick-plate rolling: A finite element analysis

Abstract

The influence of the roller table level on the vertical bending of the leading edge during asymmetric thick-plate rolling has been investigated using finite-element modeling. The study demonstrates that a mismatch in the rotational speeds of the work rolls can produce inconsistent deformation patterns, causing the strip to bend toward either the slower or the faster roll. A finite-element model developed in the Deform software was employed to simulate the bending behavior of K60-grade pipe steel strips under various asymmetry conditions. The results show that for strip thicknesses of 25–50 mm, a mismatch between the roller table level and the rolling line leads to upward bending of the leading edge. This effect is amplified when the lower roll rotates faster than the upper roll and the reduction is below a critical threshold. To mitigate vertical bending, intentional counterbending can be induced by adjusting roll speed asymmetry. In doing so, it is necessary to account for the critical reduction or the deformation zone shape factor, defined as the ratio of the deformation zone length to the average strip thickness.