Abstract: Effects of the compositional exponent and the gradient self-lubricating layer thickness (layer thickness) on the residual stress of the graphite /Ti(C,N)-based cermet gradient self-lubricating composite were studied by finite element method. The gradient self-lubricating composite was prepared by layer-sintering method. The surface residual stress was measured by X-ray diffraction and compared with the simulation. The results show that the radial compressive stress mainly distributed in surface of the gradient self-lubricating layer, and there was serious stress concentration at the interface edge between the cermet matrix and the gradient self-lubricating layer. With increasing compositional exponent, the surface radial compressive stress increased, and the stress at the interface decreased. Increasing the layer thickness could improve the stress distribution at the interface, but the surface radial compressive stress decreased. The optimal compositional exponent was 1.0-2.0, and the layer thickness was 1.0-1.5 mm. The change of the residual compressive stress with the layer thickness by testing was consistent with the simulation.