A stress distribution model of "welding+laser shock peening (LSP)" is established by using the ABAQUS finite element analysis software, and the effect of LSP with different pulse energies on the stress distribution and strain in the welding zones of 316L stainless steels processed by the argon-arc welding is studied. The study results show that the residual stress distribution simulated by this model is similar to the experimental result. LSP can induce a residual compressive stress layer in the welding zone to eliminate the residual tensile stress induced by the welding thermal influence. With the increase of laser pulse energy, the residual compressive stress and the depth of residual compressive stress layer increase, but the increase becomes smaller. The peak value of strain on the weldment surface increases with the increase of laser pulse energy.