In the process of continuous hot slab rolling, it is vital to know the
temperature distribution within the slab along the length of the rolling
mill because temperature is the dominant parameter controlling the kinetics
of metallurgical transformations and the flow stress of the rolled metal. In
other words, the microstructural changes, the mechanical properties as
well as the final dimensions of the product and roll-force depend on the
temperature distribution within the metal being rolled. In this paper, a
mathematical model based on the finite element method is utilized to predict
the temperature distribution and microstructural changes during the
continuous hot slab rolling process. The effects of various parameters such
as the heat of deformation, the work-roll temperature, the rolling speed,
and the heat transfer coefficient between the work-roll and the metal are
all taken into account in the analyses. To verify the validity of the model
and the generated computer code, a comparison is carried out between the
theoretical and plant-recorded results.