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This paper describes a theoretical approach for modelling fatigue crackgrowth after the application of an overload cycle in plates of finite thickness. Platethickness effects are directly taken into account through the use of first-order platetheory, which eliminates the need for any empirical correction factors or extensivenumerical simulations. Results are presented for the post-overload fatigue crack growthand are found to be in very good agreement with previous experimental data Theseresults demonstrate the effectiveness of the new approach as well as the significance ofaccounting for plate thickness effects in fatigue crack growth phenomena.