The finite element analysis method was applied to the simulation of quenching process of a cylindrical specimen of 9Cr18Mo steel.The cooling curve of quenching process,the variation curve of residual stress with the time,the distribution of residual stress along the axial dimension and the axial deformation of the specimen were obtained.It is found that the stress state in the specimen during quenching is complicated due to the thermal stress and the structure stress.In the end of the process,the stress state mainly relies on the structure stress.The calculated results of residual stress on the surface and the axial deformation of the specimen agree well with experimental results.