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This paper deals with static analysis and fatigue life prediction of crackedcircular arches. The exact formulation of a curved beam finite element including axialextension and transverse shear effects is presented. The stiffness matrix is determinedbased on the exact solution of the elastic equilibrium problem. A simple two-nodeelement with three degrees of freedom per node is obtained. The presence of a crack ismodelled by a line-spring of appropriate stiffness. Using the Paris-Erdogan law, thefatigue cycles of cracked circular arches subjected to pulsating loads can be assessed.