A study of the residual fatigue life prediction of 6061-T6 aluminum matrix composite reinforced with 15 vol % SIC particulates (SiCp) by using the acoustic emission technique and the stress delay concept has been carried out. Fatigue damages corresponding to 40, 60 and 80% of total fatigue life were stimulated at a cyclic stress amplitude. The specimens with and without fatigue damage were subjected to tensile tests. The acoustic emission activities were monitored during tensile tests. It was found that a lower stress level was required to reach a specified number of cumulative AE events for specimens fatigued to higher percentage of the fatigue life. This stress level is called stress delay. Approximately a linear relation was found between stress delay and fatigue damage. Using the procedure defined in this study, the residual fatigue life can be predicted by testing the specimen in tension and monitoring the AE events. The number of the cumulative AE events increased exponentially with the increase of strain during tensile tests. This exponential increase occurred when the material was in the plastic regime and was attributed mainly to SiC particulate/matrix interface decohesion and linkage of voids. In high cycle fatigue, it was observed that the residual tensile strengths of the material did not change with prior cyclic loading damages since the high cycle fatigue life was dominated by the crack initiation phase.