Prediction of shape defects during cooling of hot rolled low carbon steel strip

Shape defects are found in hot rolled steel strip when unwrapping tightly wound coils. This problem is particularly acute in thin strips that were considered to be defect free while processing. A model developed to predict the occurrence and magnitude of such defects in hot rolled low carbon steel strip is described in the present paper. The model assumes that the strip is free of shape defects as it exits the last stand of a continuous mill, but, as a result of processing conditions, thermal and microstructural gradients are present across the width of the strip. It is considered that the variation of ferrite and austenite mixture is caused by the chemical composition of the steel and the actual temperature of the strip. On cooling to room temperature, the distribution of both temperature and microstructure will cause variation in the local contraction that the steel is subjected to, and will promote shape defects.