• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 1988

Retardation or delay in fatigue crack growth due to overloads are important for the accurate prediction of fatigue lives of structural materials. In this study, retardation of fatigue crack growth in Al 6061-T6 weldments and heat affected zones (HAZ) after single overload cycle had been investigated. Retardation in both weldments and HAZ was observed. It was concluded that retardation in both weldment and HAZ was greater than in base metal due to microstructural change and crack branching and crack closure were major governing factor in retardation.