This research is only a part of the material properties work that needs to be done. It is only one model for crack growth, in very controlled circumstances. In the general case of fatigue failure, numerous other factors must be considered.
Other factors which influence failure are loading, environmental factors, and manufacturing details. It is possible of course that very good models be developed for any one of these aspects, but the overall uncertainty in the process will depend on all these issues. For example, it is possible that a structure be very well designed, and that the materials used are specified to a high degree of accuracy, and the operating conditions are well known. However, if the structure is to be assembled by a contractor with an unknown degree of reliability, then the high precision of the materials and models will be undermined by the low precision of the contractor.
This point is an important one for anyone involved in reliability prediction.