In hot-dip galvanizing process, air jet wiping control is so crucial to decide the coating thickness and uni- formity of the zinc layer on the steel strip. The mathematical models developed predict the zinc coating thickness as a function of pressure and shear stress. The required pressure and shear stress profile on the strip surface were calcu- lated using regression analysis, and carried out using numerical simulation as FLUENT, a finite element analysis software. The influences of the outlet pressure, the nozzle to strip distance, the slot opening, the edge baffle plate, as well as the tilting angle of air knife were discussed. Combining with these results and regression analysis on the practical data, four first-order polynomial multi-parameter models were established for different targeted coating thicknesses with better regression coefficients. The validated model was used to carry out sensitivity analysis to de- termine the favorable controlling regime for the air jet wiping process.
Roller leveling process of longitudinal profile （LP） plate is hardly studied because plate thickness changes. Deformation characteristics and residual curvature during LP plate leveling process were investigated based on curva ture integral by elastic plastic differences. It was found that entry intermesh section is reduced with increasing thick- ness and entry intermesh should be from 0.7 to 1.1 mm for LP plate with 42/54 mm in thickness. In order to get satisfactory flatness along longitudinal direction, small entry intermesh should be selected and exit intermesh should be 0 ram. In addition, thickness section for I.P plate which can be leveled by 11 roller leveler is from 24 to 60 mm. Finally, there is an intermesh schedule that could level LP plate with initial curvature less than elastic limit curvature.
