Since　fatigue　failure　commonly　occurs　in　mechanical　equipment,　the　prediction　of　the　fatigue　life　is　important　to　ensure　safety　in　the　running　cycle　of　production.　In　this　paper,　a　method　is　proposed　to　predict　the　low-cycle　fatigue　life.　The　accuracy　of　the　proposed　method　is　compared　to　the　strain　energy　criterion　and　Coffin–Manson/Basquin　equation　with　three　different　materials.　The　results　indicate　that　accuracy　of　the　proposed　method　is　similar　to　the　strain　energy　criterion　and　Coffin–Manson/Basquin　equation　in　predicting　the　low-cycle　fatigue　life.　©　2018,　ASM　International.