Particle　reinforced　aluminum　matrix　composites　(PRAMCs)　are　widely　applied　in　the　industry　for　their　high　strength-weight　ratio,　hardness,　and　good　creep　and　corrosion　resistance.　The　failure　behavior　of　PRAMCs-structure　in　actual　service　is　a　topic　that　has　attracted　extensive　attention.　In　this　work,　the　tensile　fracture　behavior　of　PRAMCs　reinforced　with　four　different　concentrations　of　SiC　particles　was　investigated.　The　results　show　that　the　brittleness　of　SiC/Al　increases　while　the　toughness　decreases　with　the　increase　of　SiC　concentration.　Meanwhile,　acoustic　emission　(AE)　signals　were　collected　during　the　loading　process　by　using　transducers,　and　they　were　post-processed　using　cluster　analysis　algorithm.　The　results　showed　that　AE　data　can　be　divided　into　two　clusters,　correlating　to　the　brittle　and　ductile　failure　modes.　Also,　the　frequency　characteristics　for　each　failure　mode　was　identified,　offering　guidance　for　the　health　monitoring　of　in-service　PRAMCs　structural　parts.　©　The　Korean　Society　of　Mechanical　Engineers　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2024.