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In a TAPERED-thickness composite part, why are dropped plies always positioned INTERIOR to the stack (between continuous plies), not at the outer surface?
A{'text': 'Cosmetic appearance', 'label': 'A'}
B{'text': 'Interior drops are protected from impact damage, and the load transition is shear-fed by adjacent continuous plies — surface drops create stress risers and delamination initiation sites', 'label': 'B'}
C{'text': 'Easier to manufacture at surface', 'label': 'C'}
D{'text': 'No real reason', 'label': 'D'}
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. {'text': 'Interior drops are protected from impact damage, and the load transition is shear-fed by adjacent continuous plies — surface drops create stress risers and delamination initiation sites', 'label': 'B'}
A ply terminating at the surface is a stress concentration where matrix shears at the ply tip. Interior drops are flanked by continuous plies that absorb load transfer. Design rule: stagger drops on the interior to spread shear over many transitions.
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