A study was carried out on the fatigue crack propagation behaviour in synthetic seawater of short cracks, initiated at electromachined notches, in a structural steel for offshore drilling platforms. Two effects were noted, accelerated propagation in the strain field of the notch and accelerated corrosion fatigue propagation especially at applied cathodic potentials. The only difference noted with the propagation of long cracks was smaller crack closure effects for the short cracks. Improved accuracy in evaluating this closure was obtained based on consideration of the crack tip opening angle.
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