Abstract
Ships and ocean structures are subjected to random loads caused by irregular waves. The irregularity of amplitude from random loading affects on fatigue crack growth and fatigue life. However the effects of irregularity of loading on fatigue including random loading have not been explained exactly. Therefore in this paper crack growth tests on DENT specimens under constant-amplitude loading including a single tensile overload are conducted to investigate the effect of overload on crack growth rate. The size of plastic zone and crack growth rate before and after a single tensile overloading are measured using ESPI system. Crack growth retardation model that is characterized by crack growth length and the size of plastic zone was proposed and compared with test result. From the research, the validity of proposed model is examined on crack growth retardation, and consequently fatigue life.