Abstract: The fatigue accumulative damage theories for metal materials can be divided into the following three categories:(1) linear cumulative damage theories of invariable damage;(2) linear cumulative damage theories of variable damage;(3) periodical linear cumulative damage theories of invariable damage. They are reviewed in this paper with respect to their theoretical bases, material constants, parameters involved, engineering applications and major typical models. Besides, several sets of variable loading tests of metal materials under a two-level spectrum, a multiple-level spectrum and a random spectrum are used to verify the major typical models. Finally, the applicable scopes and applications of the above three kinds of accumulative damage rules are compared and discussed according to their theoretical basis and the accuracy rate.