In　this　paper,　the　welding　residual　stress　distribution　and　the　size　of　plastic　zone　in　heterogeneous　plate　welded　joints　with　a　transverse　crack　were　studied　by　a　thermal　elasto-plastic　finite　element　method.　The　results　showed　that　for　the　plate　with　a　crack　a　stress　concentration　existed　in　the　vicinity　of　the　crack-tip.　The　distribution　of　residual　stresses　was　much　different　from　that　of　the　plate　without　a　crack.　The　effect　of　strength　matching　of　weld　metal　on　residual　stresses　was　limited　to　the　weld　region.　Also,　the　size　of　the　plastic　zone　due　to　residual　stresses　was　influenced　by　the　crack　length.　(C)　2000　Published　by　Elsevier　Science　Ltd.In　this　paper,　the　welding　residual　stress　distribution　and　the　size　of　plastic　zone　in　heterogeneous　plate　welded　joints　with　a　transverse　crack　were　studied　by　a　thermal　elasto-plastic　finite　element　method.　The　results　showed　that　for　the　plate　with　a　crack　a　stress　concentration　existed　in　the　vicinity　of　the　crack-tip.　The　distribution　of　residual　stresses　was　much　different　from　that　of　the　plate　without　a　crack.　The　effect　of　strength　matching　of　weld　metal　on　residual　stresses　was　limited　to　the　weld　region.　Also,　the　size　of　the　plastic　zone　due　to　residual　stresses　was　influenced　by　the　crack　length.