Forging laps occur in what relation to the axial direction of a part?

Forging laps are defects that can arise during the forging process due to incomplete deformation or improper material flow. These laps can appear on the surface of the forged part and do not have a predictable pattern in terms of their location or orientation relative to the axial direction of the part. This means that they can occur at various points on the surface and do not necessarily align with the axial direction, which is characteristic of more systematic defects.

In contrast, the other options suggest specific relationships between the laps and the axial direction. For instance, laps being found at a 90-degree angle to the long axis or always located on the thermal centerline indicates a regularity and predictability in their positioning, which does not align with the random occurrence of laps in the forging process.