Axial load-controlled fatigue tests on steel specimens machined from welded assemblies of 1 1/2 in. thick plates were conducted to evaluate the through thickness (ST, Z-direction or short transverse) fatigue characteristics of a normalized steel used for the construction of offshore drilling rigs.Short transverse properties of steel are important because many welded joints require loads to be transferred through the thickness of a plate. When designing and fabricating such joints, the possibility of lamellar tearing during welding should be considered.In the series of experiments undertaken, no lamellar tearing was detected in the welded assemblies prior to final machining.Cylindrical specimens were cut from the welded assemblies and threaded at both ends so that loads could be applied parallel to the through thickness direction (normal to the rolling surface) of the test plate which was located in the center.