The main aim of the international collaboration project OPUS + LAP (Lead Agency Procedure) is an analysis and explanation of protection and degradation mechanisms of steel substrates coated with self-healing organic-inorganic sol-gel coatings exposed to corrosive and very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) load conditions. The partners of the project are Dr Justyna Krzak from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland (Department of Mechanics, Materials Science and Engineering) and Prof. Wojciech Simka from the Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland (Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical and Electrochemistry). At WKK microstructure orientated characterization of fatigue behavior of coated steels in the VHCF regime will be investigated in detail.