In this work, experiments are conducted to study the influential factors of gas explosion venting for a methane -air mixture explosion in linked vessels. (1) For the linked vessels, the maximum explosion Venting pressure in both the big and small vessels increases with decreasing rupture disk bursting pressure and dimensionless vent ratio. For the case wherein the vent area to vessel volume is characterized by the same dimensionless vent ratio, the maximum venting pressures in both the primary and secondary vessels are higher than those in a single vessel regardless of the pipeline length when ignition occurs in the big vessel. (2) Comparatively, when explosion occurs without a burst disk and ignition occurs in the small vessel, the result is similar when the length of the pipeline is greater than 2.45 m. However, the maximum venting pressures in both the primary and secondary vessels are lower than those in a single vessel when the pipeline is 0.45 m in length. (3) When the dimensionless vent ratio is constant and venting Without a rupture, the results are as follows. (a) The maximum explosion venting pressures in the big and small vessels are similar to each other when the pipe length is 0.45 m for explosion venting in linked vessels without a rupture disk. (b) When the pipe length is 2.45 m, the maximum explosion venting pressure in the primary vessel is higher than that in the secondary vessel When ignition occurs in the small vessel. This phenomenon is reversed when ignition occurs in the big vessel. (c) When the pipe length is 4.45 m or 6.45 m, the maximum explosion venting pressure in the secondary vessel is higher than that in the primary vessel. (C)2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.