REU 2010 – Mathematical Modeling in Metal Processing

This project focuses on the wear of a mechanism called a Laying Pipe which coils steel rod in rolling mills. A mathematical model for the mechanism’s wear is developed through a system of differential equations. Strong correlation is shown with measured data. To improve the wear distribution, an optimal shape problem is numerically solved using minimization techniques and finite difference methods. A new shape is achieved through the improvement of the wear distribution.