Quality rolling of metal strips has always been critical. At the present, Baosteel is facing two challenges: (1) It is unclear how roll deflection and lubricant additives influence rolling stress distributions, deformation-induced temperature variation, and surface texture transfer, particularly in the regime of thin strip rolling; and (2) There is no understanding available to identify proper lubricant for metals which are prone to surface damage such as oxidation, spalling and adhesion. This project research aims to reveal the underlying mechanisms behind these challenges and in turn develop practical solutions for overcoming the relevant difficulties encountered in the production lines of Baosteel.