Using　finite　element　methods　to　carry　on　a　dynamic　simulation　of　a　welding　process　of　spherical　tank　girth　welds　and　the　plate,　from　which　the　changes　in　the　temperature　field　and　the　laws　of　welding　residual　stress　distribution　in　the　welding　process　of　the　spherical　tank　were　analyzed.　It　was　mainly　concluded　that　welding　heat-affected　zone　was　very　small,　and　the　residual　welding　stress　in　spherical　tank　girth　welds　were　functions　of　meridional　and　radial　coordinate,　and　the　zonal　residual　welding　stress　was　larger　than　the　meridional　stress,　and　the　maximum　value　of　2-D　stress　was　in　the　heat-affected　zone,　and　the　value　of　the　maximum　stress　exceeded　the　yield　stress,　which　was　a　cause　of　the　spherical　tank　defects.　The　residual　welding　stress　in　the　plate　welded　joint　was　tested　by　X-ray　method,　and　the　testing　results　were　compared　with　the　numerical　simulation　results.　The　results　matched　which　means　the　simulation　method　is　feasible.　©　2016,　Editorial　Board　of　Transactions　of　the　China　Welding　Institution,　Magazine　Agency　Welding.　All　right　reserved.