The fatigue growth behavior of short cracks were studied various load ratios. Computer-aided unloading elastic compliance method was employed to measure the closure and the length of short cracks. In the dc/dN-$Delta$K relationships. the decreasing behavior of the growth rate of short cracks is due to the decrease of crack opening ratio with increasing crack length. Irrespective of load ratio. the growth rate of short cracks can be well decribed in terms of the effective stress intensity factor range $Delta$K$_{eff}$, which is calculated on the base of crack closure. dc/dN-$Delta$K$_{eff}$ relationships of short cracks are found to coincide well with the corresponding long crack relationships. accordingly. the growth rate of short cracks can be predicted using that of long cracks.ort cracks can be predicted using that of long cracks.cks.