Push-pull fatigue tests of rolled magnesium alloys AZ31 and AZX912 were performed with a side-notch plate specimen to examine the effect of a single overload on the crack growth behavior under a stress ratio of -1. The behavior in retardation of crack growth was unclear in the case of AZ31 because the crack growth rate was relatively higher at the overload point. However, this was observed clearly, when the branching of the crack tip happened in the case of AZX912. The geometry of the fracture surface and the changes in crack growth path were related to the crack growth behavior. The crack opening level became higher when the crack growth rate was lower. Therefore, the crack closure is related to the retardation of the crack growth rate. When the branching of a crack tip occurred, not only the residual compression stress at crack front but also the variation of local crack growth direction after overload affected the fatigue crack growth behavior.
