Roll levelling is a forming process used to remove the residual stresses and imperfections of metal strips by means of plastic deformations. During the process the metal fibres are subjected to cyclic tension-compression deformations leading to achieve flat product. The process is especially important to avoid final geometrical errors when coils are cold formed or when thick plates are cut by laser. In the last years, and due to the appearance of high strength materials such as Ultra High Strength Steels, machine design engineers are demanding a reliable tool for the dimensioning of the levelling facilities. In response to this demand, Finite Element Analysis and Analytical methods are becoming an important technique able to lead engineers towards facilities optimization through a deeper understanding of the process. Aiming to this study two different models have been developed to analyze the roll levelling operations: an analytical model and a finite element model. The FE-analysis was done using 2D-modelling assuming plane strain conditions. Differing settings, leveller configuration and materials were investigated. The one-dimensional analytical levelling model is based on classical beam theory to calculate the induced strain distribution through the strip, and hence the evolving elastic/plastic stress distribution. Both models provide a useful guide to process-sensitivities and are able to identify causes of poor leveller performance. The theoretical models have been verified by a levelling experimental prototype with 13 rolls at laboratory.
After roll forming processes, metallic coils show several flatness imperfections and residual stresses that must be minimized when high quality components are manufactured by means of sheet metal forming processes. The equipments typically used for this purpose are roll leveling facilities. In the present work, a uniaxial cyclic tension-compression test has been used to determine the mechanical response of steel sheet under the different loading modes. After this, the Chaboche and Lemaitre nonlinear mixed hardening model has been fitted to the material behavior. This hardening model is able to reproduce some phenomena which occur during low cyclic deformation such as Bauschinger effect and workhardening. During the fitting of the model, the number of tension-compression cycles performed in the material characterization and the number of backstresses used for the model definition have been analyzed. Finally the influence of the material model in the roll leveling process results has been numerically analyzed. Different simulations have been performed by introducing initial defects with the objective of predicting residual stresses, residual curvatures, leveling force and torque force at the end of the process.
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