Evaluating　the　fatigue　behavior　of　steel　structures　strengthened　with　prestressed　carbon　fiber　reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　is　of　great　significance　for　structural　repair　and　rehabilitation.　In　this　paper,　an　analytical　model　based　on　linear　elastic　fracture　mechanics　considering　the　additional　elongation　of　the　steel　plate　caused　by　the　central　crack　opening　was　proposed　to　predict　the　fatigue　behavior　of　prestressed　CFRP　strips　strengthened　steel　plates.　The　finite　element　model　calibrated　by　experiments　was　used　to　verify　the　proposed　model.　The　results　showed　that　the　proposed　model　can　predict　the　stress　state　of　various　components,　the　stress　intensity　factor　SIF　amplitude,　the　fatigue　crack　growth　life,　and　the　minimum　prestress　of　CFRP　strips　required　for　crack　arrest　under　different　strengthening　conditions　with　high　accuracy.　This　study　will　be　conducive　to　a　better　application　of　the　prestressed　CFRP　strengthening　of　thin-walled　steel　structures　under　fatigue　loading.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd