To improve the straight edge seam defect on hot-rolled steel plates,the deformation and temperature distribution of rectangular slabs and chamfered slabs during rolling in a pilot rolling experiment were analyzed in detail using the finite element method.The results showed that the crease formed on the lateral side near the edge of the plate as a result of uneven stress during broadside rolling.The creases rose to the surface with unrestricted spread and evolved into a straight edge seam during the subsequent straight rolling.To eliminate the straight edge seam defect,chamfered slabs were developed and investigated for rolling.The use of the chamfered slabs provided two advantages for rolling：the distribution of the temperature near the edge was ameliorated,and the deformation shape was improved by the chamfered shape.As a result,the risk of forming a straight edge seam defect was reduced by the use of a chamfered slab.
A mathematical model for simulating the fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification in the conventional mold and the chamfer mold, together with a finite element stress-strain model in the straightening process of both molds, were established for the typical niobium, vanadium, and titanium micro-alloyed steels. On the basis of both numerical analysis, the mold copper plate with an optimum chamfered shape was designed and applied in industrial tests. The predicted results from numerical simulation of fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification in the conven tional mold and the chamfer mold show that the increased chamfered angle leads to an approximately linear increase o[ the slab surface temperature, but it also causes strong flow near the slab corner. Very small chamfered length can lead to a significant increase of the temperature near the slab corner. However, with further increasing the chamfered length, the temperature of the slab corner increased slightly. The calculated results from the finite element analysis of stress-strain during the straightening process show that at the same slope width, the tangential strain on the slat） edges and corners is minimum when the chamfered angle is 30° and 45°, which is only 40° to 46° of rectangular slabs with the same cross-section area. At the same chamfered angle of 30°, when the chamfered length is controlled between 65-85 mm, the tangential strain on the part of the slab edges and corners is relatively smaller. Industrial test results show that the slab corner temperature at straightening segment increases about 100 ℃ by using chamfer mold compared to the conventional molds. The slab transverse corner cracks have been reduced more than 95° in comparison with those in the conventional mold.
Hui ZHANGChun-zheng YANGMing-lin WANGHong-biao TAOHe-ping LIUXue-bing WANG
