Nissan has been developing and marketing ceramic turbocharger rotors for over five years. This paper outlines the major theories and techniques used in ceramic fabrication, joining of ceramic and metal components and machining of ceramics. It also presents a dynamic stress analysis using DYNA3D and describes techniques used in performing impact damage experiments, reliability evaluation and lifetime prediction NOMENCLATURE A pre-multiplier in crack velocity a crack length B constant D constant E Young's modulus F failure probability H hardness Kc fracture toughness KiCcritical stress intensity factor L load m Weibull modulus N crack velocity exponent P survival probability r radius S material strength t time V velocity ve effective volume Y shape factor p density 6 stress