The　residual　thermal　stress　(RTS)　is　distributed　heterogeneously　and　has　complex　interactions　with　the　applied　loadings,　which　significantly　influences　the　mechanical　properties　of　cemented　carbides.　The　traditional　experimental　and　simulation　methods　can　only　analyze　the　stress　distribution　statistically,　and　they　cannot　be　applied　in　the　study　on　the　microstructure　scale　to　get　the　detailed　stress　distribution.　Using　the　finite　element　method,　this　study　investigated　the　RTS　in　cemented　carbides　and　the　stress　distribution　under　different　loading　conditions.　Based　on　the　stress　analysis,　it　proposed　a　method　to　strengthen　cemented　carbides　by　tailoring　their　microstructures.　The　new　approach　presented　in　this　study　can　be　applied　to　stress　analysis　and　microstructure　tailoring　for　a　broad　range　of　multiphase　composites.　©　2023　Rare　Metals　Materials　and　Engineering　Press.　All　rights　reserved.