Macroscopic residual stresses in Al2O3/Al plates of graded composition were determined experimentally and by the finite element method (FEM). Experimental stress data were determined by sawing a notch in the plates and measuring displacements by Moiré interferometry. Residual stresses were calculated from the displacements using the weight function method. Experimentally determined stresses agreed with FEM data only if measured thermomechanical properties for the different compositions were used for finite element calculations.