In the process of steel wire fretting fatigue,the crack initiation characteristics of steel wire directly influence the crack propagation characteristics,affecting the fatigue life of steel wire fretting fatigue.Therefore,it is of great significance to carry out research on the prediction of fatigue crack initiation life of steel wire fretting fatigue.Based on the theory of fracture mechanics,finite element method and the tribology theory,the steel wire fretting fatigue crack initiation life prediction model considering the wear was established by using Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) multiaxial fatigue life criterion.The fatigue crack initiation life of the wire was predicted based on a variety of wire fatigue parameters estimation method.The influence of fretting fatigue parameters such as contact load,fatigue load,cross angle and wire diameter on the initiation life of fretting fatigue cracks was investigated.The results show that the prediction results based on median method are the most close to the actual value,the initiation life of fretting fatigue cracks is mainly related to contact load and fatigue load.By introducing fretting damage parameters,a simplified fretting fatigue crack initiation life prediction model for steel wire rope was established.The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing with the calculation results of the prediction model considering wear.