Abstract: Five classical theories on stress corrosion mechanism, which are activity path theory, passivation film rupture theory, hydrogen embrittlement theory, corrosion products wedge model and environmental cracking three-stage theory, were summarized, and among them the wideliest-accepted passivation film rupture theory was discussed in detail. Based on this, the research methods and techniques of stress corrosion propagation based on finite element method (FEM) were introduced from the following two aspects: single parameter computation and stress corrosion crack propagation simulation. Single parameter computation could obtain the key parameters of the stress corrosion crack propagation prediction model, but the hypothesis that the crack tip is a point was unreasonable. The stress corrosion crack growth simulation could take load and environmental corrosion factors into account, but it could not simulate the microscopic cracking phenomenon. In addition, a technical method for stress corrosion crack simulation was put forward based on engineering practice. Finally, the problems of FEM for stress corrosion research were discussed. For example, it cannot realize microphysical processes and time relationship. It is assumed that stress corrosion crack simulation based on stress corrosion time will be emphasized in the field of stress corrosion damage prediction of prevention in the future.