Experimental and computational investigation of cyclic mechanical behavior of sintered iron

► The material demonstrates non-uniform hardening behavior which cannot be characterized by a conventional plasticity model. ► The stabilized loops can be approximated by the combined hardening model reasonably. ► The cyclic elastic-plastic behavior and the fatigue life of the PM materials are independent of the mean stress. ► Tests on notched specimens under stress-controlled loading condition show significant ratcheting effects.