Spherical indentation of ceramic coatings with metallic interlayer was performed by means of axisymmetric finite element analysis (FEA). Two typical ceramic coatings with relatively high and low elastic modulus deposited on aluminum alloy and carbon steel were considered. The fracture mechanics of the ceramic coatings mechanisms due to occurrence of surface ring cracks extending traverse the coating thickness under spherical indentation are investigated within the framework of linear fracture mechanics. The J-integral associated to such cracks was computed. The evolution of J-integral vs the crack length and the indentation depth was studied. The effects of the interlayer, the coating and the substrate on the J-integral evolution were discussed. The results show that a suitable metallic interlayer can improve the fracture resistance of the coating systems under the same indentation conditions through reducing the J-integral. Spherical indentation of ceramic coatings with metallic interlayer was performed by means of axisymmetric finite element analysis (FEA). Two typical ceramic coatings with relatively high and low elastic modulus deposited on aluminum alloy and carbon steel were. The fracture mechanics of the ceramic coating mechanisms due to occurrence of surface ring cracks extending traverse the coating thickness under spherical indentation are investigated within the framework of linear fracture mechanics. The J-integral associated to such cracks was computed. The evolution of J-integral vs the crack length and the indentation depth was studied. The effects of the interlayer, the coating and the substrate on the J-integral evolution were discussed. The results show that a suitable metallic interlayer can improve the fracture resistance of the coating systems under the same indentation conditions through reducing the J- integral