In this work, the effect of strength mismatch on plastic limit loads is quantified for similar metal weld plates with cracks under tension load, via three-dimensional, small strain elastic-perfectly plastic finite element analyses. Relevant variables related to plate geometry and crack length are systematically varied, in addition to the weld width. An important finding is that mis-match limit loads can be uniquely quantified through strength mis-match ratio and one geometry-related parameter. Based on the proposed limit load solutions, reference stress based J-integral estimates is also investigated. When the reference stress is defined by the mis-match limit load, predicted J-integral values agree overall well with FE results.