The contour method is based on the elastic superposition principle, and relies on deformations that occur when a residually stressed part is cut along a plane. During the cut, the part is constrained at a location along the cut so that deformations are restrained as much as possible. The displacement is applied to an elastic FE model of the half. When plasticity is involved in the relaxation process, the superposition principle is no longer valid, and stress error in the resulting measurement of residual stress would be caused. Residual stress states in a laser peened Ti-6Al-4V strip were taken for the FE simulation.