Retardation in a growing fatigue crack can be achieved by heating (to a sub-critical temperature) a Spot ahead of the crack. The retardation behaviour is comparable to that obtained in a specimen subjected to an overload spike. It is observed that the retardation increases with increase in spot heating temperature. The maximum retardation is obtained in specimens spot heated at a position 5 nun ahead of the crack tip. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.