Composite structure having a stabilizing element

A composite structure, comprising:

• a structural member having a plurality of composite plies and a laminate surface;
• a geometric discontinuity associated with the structural member;
• a stabilizing element included with the composite plies below the laminate surface and being located proximate the geometric discontinuity for preventing localized out-of-plane fiber distortion at the geometric discontinuity;
• and
• the stabilizing element having stabilizing element edges and being located in a common plane with at least one composite ply having ply edges, the stabilizing element and the at least one composite ply arranged in one of the following configurations:
• the stabilizing element edges disposed in opposing relation to the ply edges;
• the at least one composite ply extending up and over the stabilizing element edges and overlapping the stabilizing element edges.

A ply stabilizer, comprising:

• a stabilizing element for a laminate having a plurality of composite plies and a laminate surface;
• the laminate having a compression discontinuity associated therewith;
• the stabilizing element being included with the composite plies below the laminate surface and being located proximate the compression discontinuity for preventing localized out-of-plane fiber distortion at the compression discontinuity;
• and
• the stabilizing element having stabilizing element edges and being located in a common plane with at least one composite ply having ply edges, the stabilizing element and the at least one composite ply arranged in one of the following configurations:
• the stabilizing element edges disposed in opposing relation to the ply edges;
• the at least one composite ply extending up and over the stabilizing element edges and overlapping the stabilizing element edges.

A method of making a composite structure, comprising the steps of:

• laying up a laminate with a plurality of composite plies, the laminate having a laminate surface and at least one of a compression discontinuity and a geometric discontinuity associated with the laminate;
• applying a stabilizing element with the composite plies below the laminate surface;
• locating the stabilizing element proximate the at least one of the compression discontinuity and the geometric discontinuity, the stabilizing element having stabilizing element edges and being located in a common plane with at least one composite ply having ply edges, the stabilizing element and the at least one composite ply arranged in one of the following configurations:
• the stabilizing element edges disposed in opposing relation to the ply edges;
• the at least one composite ply extending up and over the stabilizing element edges and overlapping the stabilizing element edges;
• and
• preventing, using the stabilizing element, localized out-of-plane fiber distortion at the at least one of the compression discontinuity and the geometric discontinuity.