The Chaboche model is a nonlinear kinematic hardening model commonly used to model the plastic deformation of metals. One of the phenomena associated with kinematic hardening is called ratcheting. Ratcheting is the progressive accumulation of plastic strain during cyclic loading.

Ratcheting is observed in high pressure piping systems, like those in nuclear power plants that are subject to seismic loading. A primary concern for ratcheting is that the accumulated plastic strain could lead to catastrophic failure even though the loading amplitude from individual cycles is not expected to cause failure.