Book excerpt: It is often difficult to become familiar with the field of metal fatigue analysis. Among other reasons, statistics being an important one. Therefore this book focuses on the basics of statistics for metal fatigue analysis. It is written for engineers in the fields of simulation, testing and design who look for a quick introduction to the statistics of metal fatigue. This book enables you - to understand and apply the statistics for metal fatigue in engeneering - to evaluate metal fatigue test data (S-N curves and endurance limits) statistically using probability net and regression - to evaluate endurance limits with the stair case method or the probit method - to calculate safety factors for your components - to assess the impact of small sample sizes - to find and evaluate outliers statistically and - to compare samples with statistic tests like the t-Test. In order to ensure a quick understanding, this book focuses on the most important methods and is limited to the downright necessary mathematics. In addition, you will find helpful tips and experiences for a significant improvement of our learning efficiency. For a comprehensible arrangement of the content many illustrations are utilized, which represents the text. In addition to it, a simple, clear language is consciously used. In order to consolidate the understanding, the theory is also supplemented by extensive job relevant exercises. For easy application of the methods of metal fatigue in engeneering you will find useful Excel tools for your own analysis. These cover the basics of the important methods of this book and can be downloaded for free.