Presented is an approach addressed to evaluation of the surface and three-dimensional fatigue crack growth based on finite-element aided modeling of the damage accumulation. The approach incorporating the Strain-life criterion for fatigue failure and lumped cyclic stress-strain curve of material, may be advantageous compared to currently employed linear elastic fracture mechanics. It provides fatigue analysis without subdivision into the crack initiation and propagation; it allows naturally considering material plasticity and the crack opening effect.

The approach application is illustrated in example of fatigue crack extensions from circular hole in a cyclically loaded plate. The results of simulation are in good agreement with experimental data.