Neural network application to head & tail width control in a hot strip mill

Width is one of the main quality items for hot rolled strip. Head and tail width control plays an important role, not only for width control, but also for minimizing crop losses. A neural network incorporating expert knowledge is developed to monitor the shape of the head & tail width, and to provide decisions to the control system for achieving the optimum head & tail width control. Simulation results show that the performance of this system is much better than the conventional system. An on-line test is scheduled in late 1995.