Microstructural length scale parameters to model the high-cycle fatigue behaviour of notched plain concrete

•Length scale parameters are related to the material microstructural features.•The maximum stress in the cycle models the mean stress effect in notched concrete.•TCD & GE are successful in estimating high-cycle fatigue strength of notched concrete. The present paper investigates the importance and relevance of using microstructural length scale parameters in estimating the high-cycle fatigue strength of notched plain concrete. In particular, the accuracy and reliability of the Theory of Critical Distances and Gradient Elasticity are checked against a number of experimental results generated by testing, under cyclic bending, square section beams of plain concrete containing stress concentrators of different sharpness. The common feature of these two modelling approaches is that the required effective stress is calculated by using a length scale which depends on the microstructural material morphology. The performed validation exercise demonstrates that microstructural length scale parameters are successful in modelling the behaviour of notched plain concrete in the high-cycle fatigue regime.