In　order　to　study　the　constitutive　relation　of　Chinese-made　austenitic　stainless　steel　S31608　(EN　1.4401,　AISI　316)　under　monotonic　and　cyclic　loading,　different　types　of　coupons　were　tested.　Based　on　the　Ramberg-Osgood　model,　modified　by　Gardner　and　Nethercot,　parameters　that　described　stress-strain　relationship　under　monotonic　loading　were　obtained.　Comparison　between　data　obtained　using　different　types　of　coupons　was　made　and　the　influences　of　welding　and　rolling　directions　were　reviewed.　Parameters　of　the　hardening　model　of　cyclic　plasticity　were　calibrated　from　cyclic　test　data　and　the　tests　were　simulated　using　ABAQUS　finite　element　analysis　software.　The　results　show　that　stainless　steel　exhibits　remarkable　nonlinearity,　and　the　stress-strain　relationship　may　vary　from　different　rolling　directions.　Under　cyclic　loading,　with　the　increase　of　cyclic　loops　and　change　in　strain　amplitudes,　stainless　steel　exhibits　cyclic　hardening　behavior,　and　the　simulated　curves　agree　fairly　well　with　the　test　curves.　It　is　therefore　recommended　that　the　influences　of　welding　and　rolling　directions　on　the　stress-strain　relationship　should　be　taken　into　consideration　and　the　constitutive　relation　under　cyclic　loading　should　be　used　if　the　component　is　subjected　to　cyclic　loads.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.