In structural ceramics, a remarkable scatter of strength is observed due to brittle behavior in deformation and flaws unavoidably formed during material processing. Therefore, information on strength characteristics of ceramics is required for the mechanical design in their applications to high-performance components. In the present paper, the strength properties of typical ceramics are reviewed from statistical aspects, especially. As for the static strength, general features of ceramic

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... h are first outlined, and then several factors affecting strength, such as environments, specimen geometry, stress state and machining, are described. The fatigue strength is reviewed in two categories of the static and cyclic fatigue. As one of screening procedures to exclude components with a lower strength, the proof testing in ceramics is described and the problems in the testing are also mentioned.