A series of experiments on short-radius pipe-bends of seamless and welded types is described, the objective being to compare the strength and flexibility of the two kinds of pipe-bends under different forms of loading. To do this rationally, it was necessary to establish whether the existing theory for curved tubes could be applied to the short-radius bend, where the pipe radius is not negligible as compared with the radius of curvature. The validity of existing theory and of a suggested extension to it was checked by carrying out extensive measurements of the stresses and deformations in pipe-bends subjected to the test loading. The results are given in two sections: (1) bending of short-radius pipe-bends (without internal pressure), and (2) stresses in short-radius pipe-bends subjected to internal pressure.