Abstract: The crack initiation and propagation of silicon steel strip with edge defect during cold rolling process was studied by using GTN damage model in this paper. Nine damage parameters in GTN model were identified by tensile testing and microstructure observing, and then the FE simulation of edge defect evolution of silicon steel strip during rolling process was conducted on the base of GTN damage model, and then the results were compared with rolling experimental results. The results show that the edge defect was a important reason for edge-crack initiation and propagation, and GTN damage model could be used to predict the occurrence of edge-crack of steel strip with edge defect during cold rolling process.The predicted results matched the experimental ones.