<> "The repository administrator has not yet configured an RDF license."^^ . <> . . . "Fractal and multifractal approaches for the analysis of crack-size dependent scaling laws in fatigue "^^ . "The enhanced ability to detect and measure very short cracks, along with a great interest in applying fracture mechanics formulae to smaller and smaller crack sizes, has pointed out the so-called anomalous behavior of short cracks with respect to their longer counterparts. The crack-size dependencies of both the fatigue threshold and the Paris’ constant C are only two notable examples of these anomalous scaling laws. In this framework, a unified theoretical model seems to be missing and the behavior of short cracks can still be considered as an open problem. In this paper, we propose a critical reexamination of the fractal models for the analysis of crack-size effects in fatigue. The limitations of each model are put into evidence and removed. At the end, a new generalized theory based on fractal geometry is proposed, which permits to consistently interpret the short crack-related anomalous scaling laws within a unified theoretical formulation. Finally, this approach is herein used to interpret relevant experimental data related to the crack-size dependence of the fatigue threshold in metals. "^^ . "2009" . "40" . "3" . . "Elsevier"^^ . . . "Chaos, Solitons and Fractals"^^ . . . "09600779" . . . . . . . . . . "Alberto"^^ . "Carpinteri"^^ . "Alberto Carpinteri"^^ . . "Marco"^^ . "Paggi"^^ . "Marco Paggi"^^ . . . . . "HTML Summary of #1971 \n\nFractal and multifractal approaches for the analysis of crack-size dependent scaling laws in fatigue \n\n" . "text/html" . . . "TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery"@en . .