Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are an advanced class of material which seeks to leverage the strengths of one material to mitigate the weaknesses of another. This allows for operation in extreme environments or conditions where materials properties must change at various locations within a structure. Fabrication of this advanced class of material is limited due to geometric, economic, and material constraints inherent in the various methods. For this reason, a model was developed to discretize continuous gradient curves to allow for the use of a step-wise approximations to such gradients. These alternative step-wise gradients would allow for the use of numerous manufacturing techniques which have improved composition control, cost of processing, cost of equipment, and equipment availability. One such technique, tape casting, was explored due to its robustness and ability to create layered ceramics. Since ceramics are inherently brittle materials, they serve to be strengthened by the thermal residual stresses that form in the creation of these step-wise graded composites. With models to calculate these residual stresses and determine step-wise approximations of various compositional gradients, the process of designing these layered ceramics can be significantly improved.