A study to determine a distinct value of front end bending for a given shape factor in flat rolling

Abstract

We investigate front end bending (FEB) behaviours of material that usually occur during flat rolling using the shape factor, defined as the ratio of the mean contact length to the mean thickness of a material for a given roll-bite profile (that is, a non-dimensional value composed of the incoming thickness of the material, its exit thickness, and the diameter of the work roll). In this study, we demonstrate that diverse values of FEB and its slope exist for a given shape factor. To determine a distinct value of FEB and its slope for a given shape factor, we introduce an additional non-dimensional parameter, geometric factor, defined as the ratio of the work roll radius to the incoming material thickness. It has been found that the geometric factor is much more sensitive to FEB behaviour than the shape factor. If one uses the shape factor and geometric factor together, a distinct value of FEB and its slope can be determined no matter what type of roll-bite profile is used in the flat rolling process.