PURPOSES: The nonlinear model of fatigue cracking is typically used for determining the maintenance period. However, this requires that the model parameters be known. In this study, the particle filter (PF) method was used to determine various statistical parameters such as the mean and standard deviation values for the nonlinear model of fatigue cracking. METHODS: The PF method was used to determine various statistical parameters for the nonlinear model of fatigue cracking, such as the mean and standard deviation. RESULTS : On comparing the values obtained using the PF method and the least square (LS) method, it was found that PF method was suitable for determining the statistical parameters to be used in the nonlinear model of fatigue cracking. CONCLUSIONS : The values obtained using the PF method were as accurate as those obtained using the LS method. Furthermore, reliability design can be applied because the statistical parameters of mean and standard deviation can be obtained through the PF method.