With a micro mechanical model, the feasibility of modification of thermal residual stress of the composites treated by tensile pre plastic deformation was analyzed. The relationship between pre plastic strain and variation of thermal residual stress was established. By using the method of tensile pre plastic deformation, the thermal residual stress in 20%SiC w/6061Al composites was modified. The results show that, with increasing tensile pre plastic strain, the tensile residual stress in the matrix was decreased to zero gradually, and then it was turned into compressive stress. By comparison, it was found that the changing tendency of the test results is similar to that of theoretical analysis. In addition, due to pre plastic deformation, the dislocation density in the matrix was increased, and the yield strength of the composites was improved. The increasing yield strength is mainly due to the decreasing tensile residual stress and the changing of distribution of dislocation in the matrix. With a micro mechanical model, the feasibility of modification of thermal residual stress of the composites treated by tensile pre plastic deformation was analyzed. The relationship between pre plastic strain and variation of thermal residual stress was established. By using the method of tensile pre plastic deformation , the thermal residual stress in 20% SiC w / 6061Al composites was modified. The results show that, with increasing tensile pre plastic strain, the tensile residual stress in the matrix was decreased to zero gradually, and then it was turned into compressive stress. In addition, due to pre plastic deformation, the dislocation density in the matrix was increased, and the yield strength of the composites was improved. The increasing yield strength is mainly due to the decreasing tensile residual stress and the changing of distribution of disl ocation in the matrix.