In　the　investigation　of　welding　of　304　L　austenitic　stainless　steel　plate,　the　finite　element　numerical　simulation　of　the　stress　field　of　multi-layer　welded　joints　was　performed　by　using　a　thermo-mechanical　coupling　analysis.　A　commercial　software　ABAQUS　was　employed　for　the　simulation.　The　significant　distortion　of　the　elemental　meshes　of　weld　metal　were　found　in　the　simulation　due　to　the　unique　thermo-mechanical　properties　of　the　austenitic　stainless　steel,　consequently,　the　abnormal　outputs　were　frequently　encountered.　In　this　work,　a　tracking-unit　technique　and　a　mesh　reconstruction　technique　were　introduced　in　order　to　solve　the　mesh　distortion　problem.　The　numerical　simulation　results　were　compared　with　that　of　residual　stress　measurements.　The　simulated　stresses　were　found　in　good　agreement　with　the　measured　data　in　various　constraint　conditions.　The　above　results　may　suggest　that　the　mesh　distortion　modification　technique　could　be　used　in　the　simulation　of　multi-layer　welding　of　other　materials.　©　2018,　Editorial　Board　of　Transactions　of　the　China　Welding　Institution,　Magazine　Agency　Welding.　All　right　reserved.