Finite element analysis of hot rolled coil cooling

A new unit layer model for the equivalent thermal conductivity of layered steel strips has been proposed. The equivalent thermal conductivity is a function of strip thickness, surface characteristics and compressive stress. The modeled equivalent thermal conductivity corresponds well to the experimental data. Finite element analyses (FEM) for cooling of hot rolled coil have been carried out under various cooling conditions using the equivalent thermal conductivity as the thermal conductivity in radial direction of hot rolled coil. A new calculation procedure using ABAQUS has been developed, where the radial compressive thermal stress is taken into account for calculation of the equivalent thermal conductivity, or the orthotropic stress dependent thermal conductivity. The calculated cooling curves using the orthotropic stress dependent thermal conductivity have been compared with data calculated using isotropic and orthotropic stress independent conductivity and with experimental data. The cooling curves calculated using equivalent thermal conductivity as radial thermal conductivity are in better agreement with experimental data.