Following this characterization, the damaged volume is removed from the specimen, which is polished and then subjected to secondary loading on various test systems at test frequencies of 5, 60, 200 and 1000 Hz. In the HCF range, a direct comparison with the original undamaged specimens can thus be derived. In the VHCF range, possible deviations in fatigue strength can be identified. The scanning electron microscopic characterization of the dislocation arrangement in the surface and volume after initial and secondary loading allows the assignment of potentially different fatigue lives and the related signals of the damage detectors with the microstructure evolution. Assuming that the volume damage leads to a reduction of the fatigue strength or fatigue life during secondary loading, the question further arises whether this condition can be reconditioned, i.e., whether an increase in dislocation density can be relieved by recovery annealing. This is to be verified by means of second loading and SEM investigations, too. Crucial for the component design, which is based here on irreversible surface damage to a depth to be specified, is the formation and propagation of PSGs leading to crack initiation. These processes are to be represented in a mechanism-oriented model to be able to describe the differences between undamaged and pre-damaged specimens. The experimental program includes different specimen geometries, test frequencies and test systems. Therefore, based on previous work of the applicants, a calibration around the frequency effect and the size effect will be performed and finally verified by some selected large-scale specimen experiments.