Finite Element Analysis of Cross Rolling on AISI 304 Stainless Steel: Prediction of Stress and Strain Fields

Studies on the effect of strain path during rolling has been carried out for a long time, but the same has not been done using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Change in strain path affects the state variables in the rolled plate like stress, strain, temperature etc. In the current work, Finite Element Analysis for cross rolling of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel has been carried out by rotating the plate by 90° in between the passes. To analyze stress and strain fields in the material for cross rolling, a full 3D model of work-roll and plate has been developed using rigid-viscoplastic finite element method. The stress and strain fields, considering von-Mises yield criteria, are calculated by using updated Lagrangian method. In addition to these, the model also calculates the normal pressure and strain rate distribution in the plate during cross rolling. The nature of the variations of stress and strain fields in the plate, predicted by the model, is in good agreement with the previously published works for unidirectional rolling.