This study is to investigate the magnitude, direction and distribution of residual stresses in surface ground plate according to working conditions. The specimens were made of structural carbon steel and were machined in various grinding conditions. These were divided in two groups; heat-treated materials and non-heat-treated materials. In each working condition, let the ground specimen generate displacements using deflection-etching techniques. At the same time, these displacements were precisely measured with electronic micrometer. Through the relation formula between the plane stress and strain, which was derived using these measured data, the values of residual stress are calculated, and the results are analyzed. These results are as follows : 1. According to the working conditions in this experiment, it can be seen that the distribution of residual stress generally had same trend and the maximum residual stress remained in 20~30 ((${mu}m$) beneath the surface. 2. It is observed that compressive residual stress changes into tensile stress in 5~20 (${mu}m$) beneath the surface. It is suggested that such phenomenon is originated from the friction effect in grinding process. 3. As the hardness increases by the heat treatment, residual stress increases. 4. As the fatigue strength increases by the compressive residual stress, it is desirable that the dowm feed and table feed reduce. 5. It can be seen that the more great the down feed and table feed increase, the more close the changing point, where the stress changed from compressive to tensile, is colse to the surface. This is due to the resultant effects of the grinding temperature and resistence are larger than the effect of the friction.