Mechanics of roll edge contact in cold rolling of thin strip

Simulation of cold rolling of thin strip due to roll edge contact with oil lubrication was performed successfully using a developed influence function method. Roll edge contact and related surface roughness was discussed in this paper. The calculated rolling force, intermediate force and work roll edge contact force increase significantly when the reduction increases. The strip profile becomes poor with a higher reduction, and the calculated rolling forces are consistent with the measured values. A modified edge shape of work roll determined from the roll edge contact length and roll edge flattening value is helpful to reduce the work roll edge wear and to extend the work roll life. Surface roughness and asperity of the rolled strip are characterized by surface profilometer and atomic force microscope. The research shows that the surface roughness reduces with a higher reduction or rolling speed. The effect of the strip width on surface roughness is not significant.