The threshold fatigue crack growth and the stable crack propagation behaviors were studied in 7017 T 651, 7020 T 651 and 5083 H 115 aluminum alloys. The threshold (.DELTA. K $_{th}$) fatigue crack growth can be expressed by the equation .DELTA. $K_{th}$) = .DELTA. $K_{tho}$(1-R)$^{r}$ , where R is stress ratio, .DELTA. $K_{tho}$ is .DELTA. K at R = 0 and r is material constant. The stable crack growth rate against stress intensity factor range .DELTA. K exhibits the trilinear form with two transitions and results of investigation on crack closure phenomena showed that the crack opening stress intensity factor $K_{op}$ is approximately equal to R $K_{max}$. + .DELTA. K $_{th}$.th/.