A method of fabricating a contoured composite laminate stiffener , comprising: assembling a substantially flat, composite laminate charge ; forming the composite laminate charge into a substantially straight stiffener having a desired cross sectional shape; forming a contour in the stiffener having an inside radius and an outside radius ; and reducing compression strain on the inside radius during the forming of the contour, wherein forming the contour in the stiffener includes: placing the straight stiffener on a curved tool surface , placing a compactor on the straight stiffener , wherein the compactor has a curvature greater than a curvature of the curved tool surface , using the compactor to compact the stiffener against the curved tool surface , wherein reducing compression strain on the inside radius includes increasing tension strain on the outside radius of the compactor , wherein increasing tension strain on the outside radius of the compactor is performed by forming a series of slits in the outside radius of the compactor , or wherein reducing compression strain on the inside radius of the composite laminate stiffener is performed by using the compactor to apply tension to outer extremities of the composite laminate stiffener. assembling a substantially flat, composite laminate charge ; forming the composite laminate charge into a substantially straight stiffener having a desired cross sectional shape; forming a contour in the stiffener having an inside radius and an outside radius ; and reducing compression strain on the inside radius during the forming of the contour, wherein forming the contour in the stiffener includes: placing the straight stiffener on a curved tool surface , placing a compactor on the straight stiffener , wherein the compactor has a curvature greater than a curvature of the curved tool surface , using the compactor to compact the stiffener against the curved tool surface , wherein reducing compression strain on the inside radius includes increasing tension strain on the outside radius of the compactor , wherein increasing tension strain on the outside radius of the compactor is performed by forming a series of slits in the outside radius of the compactor , or wherein reducing compression strain on the inside radius of the composite laminate stiffener is performed by using the compactor to apply tension to outer extremities of the composite laminate stiffener. placing the straight stiffener on a curved tool surface , placing a compactor on the straight stiffener , wherein the compactor has a curvature greater than a curvature of the curved tool surface , using the compactor to compact the stiffener against the curved tool surface , wherein reducing compression strain on the inside radius includes increasing tension strain on the outside radius of the compactor , wherein increasing tension strain on the outside radius of the compactor is performed by forming a series of slits in the outside radius of the compactor , or wherein reducing compression strain on the inside radius of the composite laminate stiffener is performed by using the compactor to apply tension to outer extremities of the composite laminate stiffener. <EOS>