Simulation of single pass of hot rolling deformation of aluminium alloy by plane strain compression

Abstract

The evolution of microstructure during a single pass of laboratory hot rolling (47% reduction) of a 5083 aluminium alloy has been investigated at different positions through the thickness of the plate. The thermomechanical histories of the subsurface and centre regions of the hot rolled slab were analysed using instrumented rolling blocks and finite element (FE) modelling; the pass history was then simulated physically using plane strain compression testing by deforming the test specimens to the appropriate equivalent strain at a representative equivalent strain rate and temperature associated with the rolling deformations. Microstructures formed by the plane strain compression simulations were then compared with the actual hot rolled microstructures. The main features of the microstructures, particularly the sizes and volume fractions of the recrystallised grains, were reproduced very well. Experimentally determined temperature profiles, mean strain rates, and strain accumulated at the centre of the slab during rolling were in reasonable agreement with the predictions of the FE model; however, the measured strain immediately beneath the surface was much higher. The implications of these results for the modelling of multipass hot rolling are discussed briefly.

MST/1351