Fatigue tests were conducted on SM45C steel using hour-glass shaped smooth tubular specimen under biaxial loading in order to investigate the crack formation and growth at room temperature. Three types of loading systems, were employed fully-reserved cyclic torsion without a superimposed static tension or compression fully-reserved cyclic torsion with a superimposed static tension and fully-reserved cyclic torsion with a superimposed static compression. The test results showed that a superimposed static tensile mean stress reduced fatigue life however a superimposed static compressive mean stress increased fatigue life. Experimental results indicated that cracks were initiated on planes of maximum shear strain whether or not the mean stresses were superimposed. A biaxial mean stress had an effect on the direction that the cracks nucleated and propagated at stage 1 (mode II).