Figures-of-merit for the thermal stress resistance of high-temperature brittle materials: a review

A review is presented of the selection rules for brittle structural ceramics subjected to severe thermal stress. A total of twenty-two figures-of-merit are presented for a total of twenty-nine different heat transfer environments and/or criteria of thermal stress resistance, involving steady-state or transient heat transfer, internal heat generation, thermal buckling as well as thermal fatigue and unstable crack propagation.