### 3.3.2. Ply Staggering

#### Cutoff Selection Rule

A Cutoff Selection Rule is used to cut plies and is suitable to define a ply staggering. This feature is not limited to an edge because the staggering is derived from a CAD Geometry. The intersection between the ply and geometry defines where the plies are cut. The ply offsets are taken into consideration. This allows you to define a laminate where the total thickness follows a 3D shape.

Figure : Thickness Distribution of a Laminate with a Cutoff Selection Rule

#### Template Selection Rule

The template selection rule feature of the Modeling Ply allows you to use one Selection Rule to define plies of different extensions. You can redefine the parameters of a selection rule in the Modeling Ply Properties dialog. A wind turbine blade, for example, has hundreds of similar plies that only differ in their the axial extension. Such plies can be defined with one Oriented Selection Set and one Parallel Selection Rule and the use of template parameters. The template parameters are easily adjusted using the Import from / Export to CSV file feature in the context menu of the Modeling Group.

Figure : Template Selection Rule Definition

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