Abstract: The welding residual stress of two welding steel plates is measured by the impact indentation method, and the residual stress distribution on the butt welding plate is simulated by the finite element method. The residual stress values by measurement and simulation are contrasted and analyzed. The two methods agree well with each other both on the stress value and distribution, The peak value of the residual stress by the actual measurement is 599 MPa, and that by the simulation is 597 MPa, indicating good applicability of the numerical simulation. The longitudinal residual tensile stress near the heat affected zone is larger than that of the horizontal residual compressive stress. In addition, the peak of the equivalent stress (Mises stress) is 792 MPa, higher than the yield stress at room temperature, showing the significant strain-strengthening phenomenon occurs to the material.