This study reviews the influence function method(IFM) for calculating stress intensity factors (SIFs, K) and modifies it to apply for the estimating the residual fatigue life for the cracked components under complex stress fields. An IFM has been developed to analyze SIFs for surface cracks which are subjectedto nonuniformly distributed stresses. Through elastic superposition, the influence function method properly accounts for redistribution of stress as the crack grows through the component. This influence function is unique to the given geometry and independent of the loading. Some examples have been provided to show the effectiveness of the IFM including the distributions of K in a residual stress field. The significant effect of residual stress upon fatigue crack growth in a welded component has been demonstrated with the IFM.