In this work, fretting fatigue tests available in the literature are modeled using the extended finite element method (XFEM). The aim is to numerically evaluate the stress intensity factors (SIFs) for cracks of different lengths emanating at the end of the contact zone and to estimate the propagation life corresponding to each of the tests. This propagation life is combined with the initiation life calculated analytically using a multiaxial fatigue criterion (Fatemi-Socie), following a initiation-propagation approach for life estimation. The predicted lives are then compared with the reported experimental lives. It is shown that the consideration of the crack-contact interaction through the numerical models tends to improve the life estimation when compared with a fully analytical approach for the calculation of both initiation and propagation lives.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI2007-66995-C0301Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología DPI2007-66995-C03-02
