The invention provides a method for testing
residual stress of a
thick plate by a
neutron diffraction technology. According to the method, in allusion to
crystal structures and elemental components ofdifferent test materials, corresponding relationships among the Bragg edges, the total
neutron absorption cross sections and the wavelengths of the test materials are calculated; through calculationof the corresponding relationships among the Bragg edges, the total
neutron absorption cross sections and the wavelengths, several
wavelength values which can increase the
penetration depth of neutrons in a
thick plate sample are determined; the texture of the sample is tested, a preliminary test
wavelength according to a test result of the texture is selected, and corresponding optimal wavelengths of the
test sample in a transmissive mode and a reflective mode are selected according to a peak height / background value, a strain error value, a total
neutron count and the actual neutron penetration
path length; through change of the wavelengths, the
penetration depth of the neutrons in the
thick plate sample is increased, the test time is shortened, a test error is reduced, and the
residual stress of the thick plate is accurately tested. In a way of changing the wavelengths, the penetration ability of the neutrons in the thick plate sample is improved, the efficiency of testing the
residual stress of the thick plate through
neutron diffraction is improved, the test time is shortened and the test error is reduced.