Testing the batch is the best way, but a test set typically costs $12K+
to run. Many of the nCode supplied constants come from the FDE Comm.
where Bruce Boardman from J.Deere compiled sets of constants for
common materials. He published a table in an SAE paper. or J1099(?)
Results were from literature, steel suppliers, etc
of batch tests. Some material sets are also found here:
Another source are a set of books by A.Baeumel Jr and T.Seeger e.g.: ISBN 0 444 41685 4
with a corrections book at ISBN 0 444 88603 6 Publisher is Elsevier.
Be warned that the parameters are from a least sq. fit process and do not
always fit the data. Whenever possible you should always plot the test
data points and the "fit" curve to see if it applies in the life region you are
interested in and to find where extrapolation has occurred.
Also be warned that when you have a mixture of small cycles interspersed
with occasional large load cycles that you can get damage by cycles below
the fatigue limit.