ESDU Fat E.07.02 discusses the relevance of the data for plain specimens in ESDU Fat E.07.01, obtained under bending, to conditions of axial loading and concludes that the main cause of discrepancies in fatigue strength between the two cases is the result of non-axiality of the loading. For true axiality of loading, the difference between the fatigue strengths under bending and axial loading is likely to be only 5 per cent. For notched specimens, failure is governed by the stress at the bottom of the notch and no difference will exist. The effect of surface finish is also considered and factors to be applied to the results in ESDU Fat E.07.01 are suggested for extruded, rolled or clad components.