Using small-sized bending fatigue testing machine of electro-dynamic type, fatigue crack growth tests were performed on 7075-T6 aluminum alloy to investigate fatigue crack growth behavior in the vicinity of notch. Crack length and crack closure were measured by unloading elastic compliance technique using back face strain gage. To introduce a short through-thickness crack at the root of notch, firstly, it was attempted to make perfectly straight through-thickness pre-crack. Specimens with various types of side groove and starter notch were tested. As a result, perfectly straight through-thickness precrack could be obtained by employing the specimens with round side groove and starter notch of chevron type. After precracking, notch was introduced by EDM(Electric Discharge Machining). Growth rates of short fatigue crack(in length 0.3-1.5mm) under the influence of notch were well described by the effective stress intensity factor range accounting for crack closure
