A discontinuity typically found in forgings is which of the following?

• A. Shrinkage
• B. Bleed-Out
• C. Laps
• D. Undercut

Answer: (C)

A lap is a seam formed when metal flows during forging and folds back over itself instead of filling evenly. As the workpiece is shaped, complex flow paths and corners can cause metal to overlap, creating an overlap or layered edge—a wrinkle-like discontinuity that may appear on the surface or just beneath it. This folding behavior is characteristic of forgings, where metal is driven to flow into tight geometries, making laps a common defect in that process.

For context, shrinkage comes from solidification and is typically seen in castings, not forgings. Bleed-out is more related to excess material during pouring or welding, and undercut is a groove formed by tooling edges rather than a folded seam.