A lateral force-sensing micro-indentation method has been recently proposed by the authors to evaluate the interfacial bond strength for coatings and thin films [Zhang, H., Chen, Q., Li. D.Y., Acta Mater., 52 (2004) 2037.]. The method has been successfully applied to determine the interfacial bond strength for thermal-sprayed Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2) composite coatings [Zhang, H., Li, D.Y., Surf. Coat. Tech., 197 (2005) 137.]. in this study, a finite element (FE) analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of micro-indentation condition on interfacial debonding for three typical interfaces (Al-ceramic, steel-ceramic and tool steel-ceramic), which represent interfaces composed of soft and hard materials, medium-hard and hard materials, and hard and hard materials, respectively. The free edge effect was analyzed to determine the effect of material mismatch on interfacial debonding. The influences of micro-indentation parameters on interfacial debonding, including indenter geometry and indentation position for three interfaces, were also investigated. Based on the FE study, efforts were made to establish guidelines for effective application of the lateral force-sensing micro-indentation method for evaluation of the interfacial bond strength. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.