A new experimental measurement of residual stresses around Vickers′ indentations on the surface of the SiC/Al 2O 3 nanocomposites is proposed with the aid of a Raman microprobe. Results s how that the shifts of R lines in the fluorescence spectra va ry with the distance from the centre of indentation. The magnitude of load appli ed on the surface of the materials through the indenter influences the shifts of R lines to great extent. The luminescence of R lines of the materials before indenting is used to determine the residual stresses around the indentation in the materials, assuming that the stress tensor is transversely isotropic. Final ly, the term of hydrostatic stress is adopted to explain and compare different residual stresses around indentations with the increase of the indenting load an d the distance from the centre of indentations. <
