A paradox in curved beams

It is sometimes possible to relieve the stresses in a mechanical component by removing material, where relief grooves are the commonest expedient approach. Within the rectilinear beam realm, rare situations are known in which, by removing material in the cross-sectional zones that are farthest from the neutral axis, a bending stress diminution is achieved. With regard to curved beams, selected examples are presented in which a bending stress diminution is achieved by laterally removing material from the zones close to the neutral axis. An approximate mathematical approach based on Gateaux linearization is developed that delimits the lateral zones of the beam cross-section in which material removal is accompanied by bending stress reduction. While the achievable stress diminution is generally marginal, the reduction of the beam’s cross-section is technically interesting.