Various machinery parts or welded structure elements are characterised by significant cross-sectional changes along their length, leading to locally increased or accumulated stresses. The concentration of stresses is often of vital importance when determining structural stresses and strains, affects the service life of elements exposed to cyclic loads as well as influences the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks. The article is an overview of works concerning conventional methods enabling the determination of maximum local stresses present in the stress concentration area triggered by the geometrical shape of welded joints.