In this paper, the growth of semi elliptical crack in the walls of thick walled cylindrical pressure vessels has been investigated. Considering the importance of the crack growth problem in cylindrical pressure vessels provides a numerical and experimental 3D model for the growth of fatigue crack and estimating the fatigue life of pressure vessels. Because of available geometric geometric and physical parameters, it can be predicted the problem of the fatigue life of these pressure vessels more

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... precisely in comparison with existing standard tests which are experimental and numerical. A most common specimen of thick walled tanks, steel, is analyzed for conducting experimental tests. The mechanical properties and fatigue behavior of A516 steel have been determined experimentally. For estimating the crack growth and calculation of fatigue life, boundary element method and linear fracture mechanics equations have been used. Finally, the experimental results for fatigue crack . 2 growth were compared with numerical method, which yielded acceptable results. The overall results show a good agreement between the experimental data and the numerical results.