Sliding Mode Control with Sliding Perturbation Observer-Based Strategy for Reducing Scratch Formation in Hot Rolling Process

In a hot rolling process, excessive friction between rollers and steel plates may lead to the formation of scratches on the steel plate. To reduce scratch formation in the finishing mill of the hot rolling process, two techniques are proposed in this work: flying touch and velocity synchronization. The proposed flying touch method can reduce the impact of the generated force when the upper roller collides with the steel plate. In addition, the proposed velocity synchronization method can decrease the frictional force resulting from the velocity difference between the rollers and steel plate. The effectiveness of the proposed methods was demonstrated through simulations and experiments using a 1/40 downscaled hot rolling simulator. The simulations and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed methods can reduce the magnitudes of friction and impact forces that lead to scratch formation on the steel plates in the hot rolling process.