In this paper, the growth of semi-elliptical crack in the walls of thick-walledcylindrical pressure vessels was investigated. The signi cance of the crack growth incylindrical pressure vessels provides numerical and experimental 3D models for the growthof fatigue crack and estimates the fatigue life of pressure vessels. Because of availablegeometric and physical parameters, the fatigue life of these pressure vessels can be predictedmore precisely than the existing standard tests, i.e., experimental and numerical. Themost common specimen of thick-walled tanks, steel, was analyzed to conduct experimentaltests. The mechanical properties and fatigue behavior of A516 steel were determinedexperimentally. For estimating the crack growth and calculating the fatigue life, theboundary element method and linear fracture mechanics equations were used. Finally, theexperimental results of fatigue crack growth were compared with the numerical method,which yielded acceptable results. The overall results showed good agreement between theexperimental data and numerical results

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