Methods of making and structures containing stiffeners having transition portions

A method (300) of making a stiffener (100), the method (300) comprising:

• laying up a base charge (124) to form a part of a first stiffener portion (102) of the stiffener (100) from a first base-charge portion (142) of the base charge (124), to form a part of a second stiffener portion (106) of the stiffener (100) from a second base-charge portion (144) of the base charge (124), and to form a part of a transition stiffener portion (110) of the stiffener (100) from a transition base-charge portion (146) of the base charge (124), wherein the transition base-charge portion (146) tapers from the second base-charge portion (144) to the first base-charge portion (142);
• laminating an initial charge (148) onto the base charge (124) to form a part of the first stiffener portion (102) of the stiffener (100) from a first initial-charge portion (150) of the initial charge (148) and to form a part of the transition stiffener portion (110) of the stiffener (100) from a transition initial-charge portion (152) of the initial charge (148), wherein the first initial-charge portion (150) of the initial charge (148) is shaped identically to the first base-charge portion (142) of the base charge (124) and the transition initial-charge portion (152) of the initial charge (148) is shaped identically to at least a portion of the transition base-charge portion (146) of the base charge (124);
• and
• laminating a subsequent charge A onto the initial charge (148) to form a part of the first stiffener portion (102) of the stiffener (100) from a first subsequent-charge-A portion of the subsequent charge A and to form a part of the transition stiffener portion (110) of the stiffener (100) from a transition subsequent-charge-A portion of the subsequent charge A, wherein the first subsequent-charge-A portion of the subsequent charge A is shaped identically to the first initial-charge portion (150) of the initial charge (148) and the transition subsequent-charge-A portion of the subsequent charge A is smaller than the transition initial-charge portion (152) of the initial charge (148) and is shaped identically to a portion of the transition initial-charge portion (152).