Effect of Shear Deformation on Closure of a Central Void in Thin-Strip Rolling

Central voids or voids at the middle layer are often found in thin strips produced by twin-roll casting. These strips are in general so thin that they are unable to take a required reduction in thickness to close the voids. In the present investigation, equal-speed rolling and differential-speed rolling were compared to assess the effect of differential speed on closure of the voids by the rigid-plastic finite-element analysis. As a result, shear deformation developed in differential-speed rolling was found to reduce the reduction in thickness required for void closure. An increase in speed ratio, length of deformation zone, or friction coefficient at the interface expedited the progress in void closure. However, as the speed ratio exceeded thickness ratio, a portion of rolling power was dissipated extensively by excessive slip at the interface. Moreover, tensile stress developed which would cause cracks in the strip. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2015