Metal Rolling

Process Definition & Working Principle

Metal rolling is a bulk plastic deformation process in which a starting workpiece (ingot, slab, bloom, or billet) is continuously subjected to compressive stress by passing it through the gap between two or more counter-rotating cylinders called rolls. The primary objective is to reduce the thickness (or cross-sectional area) of the material and/or generate a specific profile geometry, while simultaneously modifying and refining the internal microstructure.

Roll Bite Mechanics and Entry Condition

The deformation zone is termed the "roll bite" and is characterized by the contact length $L$ along the arc of the roll. The entry contact geometry is governed by the bite angle $\alpha$, defined as the angle subtended by the arc of contact at the center of the roll.