Statistics for Abstract Studies have been conducted on the effect of overstressing in rotary bending fatigue on the fatigue properties of an annealed and austempered ductile iron containing 1.5 Ni–0.3 Mo. For various R ratios S–N curves were determined and the fatigue limit estimated. It was found that the fatigue limit was a function of the level of overstressing and cycle ratio. In the case of austempered samples a beneficial effect of overstressing was observed at a certain level of overstressing. This was related to the work hardening behaviour of the austenite phase. In annealed samples, a reduction in the fatigue limit was observed at all levels of overstressing. Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved