[en] The usefulness of stress corrosion cracking for the qualitative determination of residual stresses has been evaluated in tests. Stress corrosion cracking is generally not suitable for this purpose since structures of different strength and hardnesss and slight differences in chemical composition may affect the formation of cracks. Besides, cracking changes the state of residual stress considerably so that no qualitative evaluation of the stress pattern can be made. In center-welded rectangular plates, stress trajectories symmetric to the weld and to the center of the plate are encountered. In the center of the plate and on the seam weld, the main directions of residual stresses are parallel or vertical to those of the longitudinal and transverse stresses. As the length of the weld increases, so the longitudinal stresses are increased. Beyond a weld length limit, the amount of residual stresses remains constant. With increasing plate thickness, tensile stresses on the side of the plate opposite to the weld are suppressed, resulting in a favourable compressive stress range. Residual welding stresses can be reduced to 30% by stress-relief heat treatment at 650⁰C. An essential reduction of stresses of the order of 50% starts at temperatures above 500⁰C