Experimental investigation of high frequency pulse loading on fatigue crack growth in 5052-H32 series aluminum

•Experimental data from Aluminum 5052 crack growth under a high frequency pulse indicates crack kinking behavior under certain pulse conditions.•Digital Image Correlation captures surface strains and the development of a strain hardening zone ahead of the crack, similar to a hard inclusion.•Crack opening displacement and surface strain vectors were utilized to characterize the kinking behavior and relate it to the retardation of the crack growth.•A model utilizing surface strain data and segmenting the overall retardation area into smaller zonal behavior was able to capture the retardation of the crack growth.