Won't the stresses in the crankshaft as calculate by a simple or even a complex stress analysis be useful for the fatigue design? Where else would you get the stresses needed in fatigue analysis?
I think what most here are trying to say is that the answers to simply posed questions such as "how much force can I put on this structure and how do I determine that force?" are much more complex the simplicity of the question would indicate. Multiple failure modes are possible with most structures and each must be considered to yield something what I like to call a 'holistic analysis', though others might have a different phrase for the same idea of considering all failure modes. For instance, in designing typical airplane structures, many failure modes are possible--static strength, residual strength, and fatigue (fracture mechanics and damage tolerenace, that is). Whatever analysis gives you the lowest 'max. stress' (which itself is another decision if static strength limits the design--do I use Tresca criterion? How about von Mises?) is the failure mode that often is the design limiter. I personally don't design crankshafts, so couldn't tell you which failure modes must be examined, and how to handle the analysis for each failure mode calculation. I am frankly surprised no one on this forum designs crankshafts and would have an answer for you as to where to look for crankshaft design criteria.