Recent developments in advanced ceramics are critically evaluated in respect to their thermal shock and thermal fatigue behaviour from an interdisciplinary viewpoint by leading experts. The book covers the aspects of material development, mechanical and fracture mechanical models and experimental testing methods. Special emphasis is given to the influence of a rising crack resistance on the thermal shock behaviour, novel irradiation testing methods for a quantitative characterization of the thermal shock and fatigue loading as well as detailed fracture mechanical models for single and multiple crack propagation. This book summarizes developments of the last decade concerning the thermal shock and thermal fatigue behaviour of advanced ceramics. The scientific articles of this book were carefully arranged in order to achieve a textbook-like-form which should be of great value to researchers and students.