Lead as a model material to simulate mandrel rolling of hot steel tube

A brief review of selected investigations illustrates the use of lead as a model material to describe the compressive behaviour of hot steel in rolling operations. Lead was chosen as an analogue material to hot steel since it exhibits similar stress–strain characteristics and deforms under lower loads. It is demonstrated how the strain rate analysis of the tube deformation during mandrel rolling enables the total generalised strain and the mean yield stress to be determined for further theoretical analysis. This paper discusses the use of lead to simulate the longitudinal rolling of hot steel tube through grooved rolls under laboratory conditions. Mandrel rolling is specifically considered since the mechanics of the process was, until recently, bereft of meaningful analysis. This analysis utilises the energy method to evaluate the mean deformation pressure and the contributions to this pressure from the homogeneous, frictional and redundant work components. The theoretical analysis is outlined and shows how the mean roll pressure and the roll separating force can be estimated for a particular reduction in tube cross-section.