Inclusion-controlled high cycle fatigue behavior of a high V alloyed powder metallurgy cold-working tool steel

► High cycle fatigue behavior of AISI 11 is controlled by crack propagation stages. ► Compressive residual stress affects the location of crack origin. ► Two zones exist in fish-eye, including Paris and fast fatigue crack growth stage. ► Fractography can be used to estimate the fatigue properties of ΔKth and KIc.