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Ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are increasingly applied toenhance the performance of advanced gas turbine engines. However, the delaminationcracks initiated in these coatings limit their applications. In this research, a sandwichedfour point bend specimen was used to evaluate the crack growth resistance in plasmasprayed TBCs. Well controlled, stable and measurable crack extension was obtained. Arising crack growth resistance curve was found. The steady state strain energy releaserate was obtained to be ~ 170 J/m2. The delamination crack evolution behavior was in-situ observed and simulated by finite element analysis based on a bridging model.