The uniaxial/multiaxial cyclic deformation behaviors of SiCp/6061Al alloy composites
with various particulate volume fractions were studied by uniaxial and multiaxial cyclic straining or
stressing tests at room temperature. The cyclic softening/hardening features and ratcheting
behaviors of T6-treated composites and un-reinforced matrix were discussed in different loading
conditions. It is shown that the ratcheting also occurs in the composites under uniaxial and
multiaxial asymmetrical cyclic stressing, and the ratcheting strain increases with stress amplitude
and mean stress; however, the addition of SiC particulates into the matrix increases the resistance of
the composite to ratcheting. The ratcheting depends greatly on the shapes of loading paths and
mainly occurs in the direction of non-zero mean stress.