Ultrasonic based non-destructive testing technique for predicting shape defects in rolled steel sheets

Abstract

Shape defect such as bow and crossbow, is one of the major defects in hot rolled sheets. These defects arise due to non-uniform plastic strain (thermal and mechanical) due to improper rolling process. In-turn this non-uniform strain induces residual stress in the rolled material. Hence measurement of residual stress in early stage helps as a Go/No Go tool, while supplying material to customers to whom shape defects are very much problematic during its downstream process. In this paper a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique has been developed to predict the magnitude of bow/crossbow based on residual stress measurement using ultrasonic technique. The technique employs the relationship between residual stress distribution and its corresponding effect towards bow/crossbow formation. The paper also elaborates about residual stress measurement using ultrasonic measurement based on the acousto-elastic theory. It was demonstrated that there exists a distinct relationship between crossbow and residual stress for high strength hot rolled steel sheets experimentally.