Influence of intermediate roll shifting on strip shape in a CVC-6 tandem cold mill based on a 3D multi-stand FE model

Abstract Intermediate roll shifting (IRS) is widely used for improving the strip shape in six-high tandem cold mill, but most related studies are limited to a single stand. To fill knowledge gap, three-dimensional (3D) multi-stand elastic–plastic finite element (FE) model was developed continuously variable crown (CVC)-6 mill using data transfer, which then validated by industrial experimental results. Based on this FE model, effects of IRS crown, flatness, loaded gap profile and contact normal stress between rolls at each stand were quantitatively analysed. The results show that from Stand 1 (S1) 5 (S5), regulation ability shows decreasing trend, depends plastic rigidity; contrast, quadratic flatness experiences an obvious increase S1 4 (S4), drop S5, while exerts little effect quartic gap. Moreover, uniform distribution emerges different IRSs S5. These findings can contribute better understanding role controlling during rolling (TCR).