Prediction of the deflection and residual stress in controlled cooling of hot-rolled steel beams including load and arbitrary support: Part I. Computational model

The computation of deflection and residual stress in hot-rolled beams subject to controlled cooling on the run-out table, to produce predetermined properties, is described. The inclusion of self-load and arbitrary contact with the supporting table and provision for inclusion of applied stress represents an extension of published analyses. The present analysis is based on the generalised plane-strain model of Abouaf, Chenot and Marcelin which is extended to include the effect of body forces (the weight of the beam) which requires removal of the assumption of constant curvature and thence permits inclusion of applied load. The present analysis also provides for improved representation of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the beam by deriving it as a function of temperature and the kinetics of phase transformation. Experiments to validate the model by comparing computed and measured residual stresses in beams are described.