Formation mechanism and control methods of inhomogeneous deformation during hot rough rolling of aluminum alloy plate

The inhomogeneous deformation which appears in hot rough rolling of aluminum alloy plate, reduces rolling output and negatively affects the rolling process. To study the formation mechanism of the inhomogeneous deformation, a finite element model for the five-pass hot rough rolling process of aluminum alloy plate is built. Results show that inhomogeneous deformation distribution in thickness direction causes two bulges at head and tail ends, as indicated by the analysis of the equivalent plastic strain distribution and deformation. However, formation mechanism of the inhomogeneous deformation at head end differs from that at tail end. Changing the end shape and angular rolling are adopted for decreasing the length and width of the crocodile mouth. It can be found that the crocodile mouth can be improved effectively by increasing the central bump length and the rotation angles through simulation and experiments. Then, the combination effect of two methods is simulated and results show that the combination effect is better than respectively using of each method. In addition, combination of two methods can avoid the restricted conditions for respectively using of each method. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. on behalf of Politechnika Wroclawska.