VDEh-Betriebsforschungsinstitut GmbH (Düsseldorf, Germany):

Diegelmann V., Mag. Eng., Head of the Prohect “System and Process Development for Metal Processing”, e-mail: volker.diegelmann@bfi.de

Bilstein GmbH & Co. KG (Hagen, Germany):

Zwickel G., Mag. Eng., General Director
Ullrich M., Mag. Eng., Supervisor, Production Director

Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade (Porto Salvo, Portugal):

Gouveia H., Dr., Acting Director, Head of Production and Technology Dept.

Andritz-Sundwig GmbH (Hemer, Germany):

Weirauch U., Mag. Eng., Development Engineer, Strip Processing Equipment
Boguslawsky K., Mag. Eng., Head of Strip Processing Equipment

Universidad de La Rioja (Logroňo, Spain):

Espinoza A. V. P., Dr. Phil., Prof., Research professor, Edmans Research Group

Main objective of the investigations presented in this article was the development of an innovative strip fi nishing procedure by combining tension levelling and skin pass rolling into one production step and thus to shorten the process chain. It could be proved that the mechanical characteristics of strip material mainly adjusted during the skin pass rolling process are possible to be achieved as well during a pure tension leveling process by variation of applied tension and bending load. The realization of the desired surface texture requires an additional superposed deformation under pressure introduced simultaneously in those strip sections where the yield strength of the material already is met by the applied tension-bending procedure. Tension-bending skin-pass unit composed of roll cartridges for upper and lower strip side with bending and texture transfer rolls is presented. FEM-simulation of tension-bending skin-pass rolling as well as FEM-Simulation of roughness transfer (including reproduced roll topography and roughness transferred onto the strip) are displayed. Comparison of common skin pass and hybrid skin pass process regarding required roll forces for adjustment of skin pass degree (“elongation”) is analyzed. Using the new facility it will be possible to adjust material mechanical and surface roughness properties independently. Thus the new technique fundamentally contributes to the common development to require steel grades with highest surface quality and simultaneous highest available deformation resources.

1. Control of the yielding and ageing behaviour in temper rolling, EUR 20214 EN, 2002.
2. Control of sheet surface defects and deep drawing properties in final strip production steps, Contract No 7210-PX/338 (Completion date: 30. Juni 2005).
3. Chaboche J. L.; Rousselier G.: (1983), Trans ASME J. press., Vessel Tech. v. 105, S. 153.
4. Morris J. W.; Hardy S. J.; Lees A. W.; Thomas J. T.: Cyclic behaviour concerning the response of material subjected to tension levelling, Int. Journal of Fatigue 22 (2000), S. 93/100.