Abstract
It is well known that tensile peak overloads may significantly delay suubsequent constant amplitude fatigue crack growth in many materials. Since real structures are usually subjected to complex load histories, the ability to predict accurate crack growth under realistic service conditions is of major engineering interest. This paper describes experiments on fatigue track growth in the integrally stiffened panel of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. The effect of shape parameters and overload position on the fatigue crack growth behavior of integrally stiffened panels are discussed. Based on the experimental results, the following conclusions have been drawn: the overall fatigue crack growth retardation resulting from single overload in the stiffened panels was generally larger in the larger thickness ratio, although the retardation trends, according to the change in overload positions, were similar to those exhibited in the non-stiffened panels.