In order to apply ceramics to the structual materials of a gas turbine, it is necessary to improve the reliability of ceramics, because ceramics are superior as heat-resisting materials, but are brittle. This report describes the application of ceramics to improve the reliability as structural materials of a gas turbine. From the combustion tests using 20MW-class ceramic combustors and stator vanes, and numerical analysis, the following were discussed: (1) The establishment of the structural design concept which is appropriate for the application of ceramics as brittle materials: (2) The adoption of ceramic materials which have characteristics which reduce the thermal stress: (3) The proposal of the gas turbine trip operation which is able to shut off the fuel gradually.
