Computer modelling of the effect of rolling schedule on the plastic anisotropy of cold-rolled aluminium sheets

Metal sheets produced by rolling bring about dramatic changes in the mechanical properties and are characterized by the crystallographic textures (or preferred orientation of grains) which give rise to anisotropic properties. Computer modelling of the rolling texture formation offers a systematic and efficient way of exploring the relationship between the process variables and the state of plastic anisotropy of sheet products. The simulated results show that in general a high overall rolling reduction coupled with a small number of rolling pass will give a sheet with high normal anisotropy. Cross-rolled sheets possess higher average plastic strain ratios and lower planar anisotropy than those of the straight-rolled sheets. The higher plastic strain ratio is found to be associated with the {110} rolling plane texture components of the cross-rolling textures.