In this study, Charpy impact test and numerical studies were performed to examine the effects of failure behavior and energy absorption on the notch position. For this purpose, carbon steel plate(SA-516 Gr. 70) with thickness of 25mm usually used for pressure vessel was welded by SMAW(Shielded Metal-Arc Welding)method and specimens were fabricated from the welded plate. The Charpy impact tests were then performed with specimens having different notch positions varying within HAZ. A series of three-dimensional FE analysis which simulates the Charpy test and crack propagation are carried out as well. We divided HAZ into two, three and four regions to apply mechanical properties of HAZ to FE-analys. Results reveal that the absorbed energies during impact test depend significantly on the notch position. To obtain the results of reliability, HAZ should be divided into at least three regions.