In this paper, the thermal stress of the double-ceramic-layer (DCL) La2Zr2O7/8YSZ thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) during thermal shock has been calculated. The residual stress of the coating after being sprayed has been regarded as the initial condition of the first thermal cycle. The characteristic of the stress development during the thermal cycle has been discussed, and the influence of the defects on the failure mode during the thermal cycle has also been discussed systematically. Finite element simulation results show that there exist higher radial thermal shock stresses on the ceramic layer surface of these two coatings. There also exist higher thermal stress gradient at the interface between the ceramic layer and the metallic layer. Higher thermal stress in 8YSZ/NiCoCrAlY coating lead to the decrease of thermal shock property as compared to that of LZ/8YSZ/NiCoCrAlY coating. The addition of LZ ceramic layer can increase the insulation temperature, impede the oxygen transferring to the bond coating and can also reduce the thermal stress. Considering from the aspects of thermal insulation ability and the thermal shock resistance ability, DCL type LZ/8YSZ TBCs is a more promising coating material compared with the single-ceramic-layer (SCL) type 8YSZ TBCs for the application. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.