M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering) / The use of longitudinally welded tube are limited in certain sectors of industry due to the belief that seamless tubes are superior. The main objective of this study was to try and prove that sufficient resistance to internal pressure could be achieved by longitudinally welded type 304L stainless steel tubes, while subjected to various external forces. A knowledge of plasticity theory and failure criteria provides the basis of the different mechanisms of tube failure. Four different tests were performed using different external forces, while internal pressure was increased until failure occurred. It was found that test specimens failed after reaching acceptable pressures, irrespective of the external loading conditions.