Abstract
For the $\beta$=1 specimen with constant thickness, Crack growth rate is smoothly increasing in the a-N curve. On the other hand for $\beta$=2 specimen with various thickness, the inflection point is observed in crack growth rate near the thickness interface. da/dN before the inflection point is increased, and da/dN after the point is decreased, compared to the $\beta$=1 specimen. da/dN near the thickness interface is approached zero. The descending point was observed earlier as $\beta$ increased. Considering the relation between da/dN and λ, the crack propagation rates for the case of $\beta$ =1 incrased almost linearly, however, the crack propagation rates for $\beta$=2,3 decreased more rapidly near the thickness interface. Additionally, the decreased point in da/dN for $\beta$=3 is farther from the thickness interface than the case for $\beta$ =2.
