Making use of stress distribution in a finite plate with the presence of cracks, residual stress and actual applied stress can be obtained. The finite element technique is used to determine stress intensity factor and stress distribution in a plate having two double edge cracks with different crack depth. Experimental measurement has been carried out in a finite plate subjected to tensile stress. Strain relaxation due to making two double edge cracks is given, residual stress can also be estimated. The effect of crack depth and its location for measuring residual stress is investigated under same tensile loading condition for three different engineering materials. A good agreement between theoretical and experimental determination of stress relaxation is obtained. An engineering chart for obtaining the actual applied stress in a tensile loaded plate is implemented.