Strip flatness modelling including buckling phenomena during thin strip cold rolling

This paper describes the application of a steady state elastic–viscoplastic finite element model to the prediction of strip flatness and out of bite buckling during cold rolling of thin strips. This model is applied here to the last stand of a tinplate tandem cold mill. Results show that strip buckling reshuffles the non-homogeneous strip velocity profile just at the roll bite exit; strip stresses inside the roll bite are little impacted, so that roll stack deformation and roll force profile are not modified. The paper focuses on 'latent strip flatness', i.e. the profile in the transverse direction of the stress in the rolling direction. The profile predicted by the model far downstream the roll bite is in good agreement with shapemeter measurements only if strip buckling (i.e. manifest flatness) just at the roll bite exit and its interaction with the roll bite are considered, using a strong coupling of bite model and post-bite buckling model.