Disks of a commercial alumina were fabricated by slip casting, calcination and sintering. The surfaces were machined using SiC papers (120 and 320 grit) and characterized by residual stresses measurements. The mechanical strength was determined in biaxial flexure (ball on discontinuous ring). The specimens were subjected to thermal shock conditions (cooling using a high-velocity air jet) and the critical temperature differential for crack propagation was determined. The temperature and stress

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... stributions during air impinging were calculated using a finite element method. The value of the heat transfer coefficient was estimated by fitting the calculated temperature profiles with those measured during each test. The calculated tension for the thermal shock fracture was compared with the mechanical strength, together with the fracture features in each case. The differences were explained on the basis of the calculated stress distributions.