The major thermomechanical problems of the divertor target plates of the Next European Torus (NET), the procedures and the material data needed for design evaluation are described. As a representative example a preliminary analysis of the divertor plates, which consist of an assembly of one-channel TZM elements, cooled with helium and protected with brazed graphite, is presented. The thermal and mechanical results show, on the one hand, the viability of this concept with respect to peak graphite temperatures, distortion limit to maintain adequate angles with the separatrix, and thermal fatigue and ratchetting of the TZM structure, for a peak surface heat flux of 5 MW/m 2. On the other hand, they contribute to the definition of the material testing programme in terms of further data needs, priorities and test parameter range. Emphasis is put on the fracture mechanics behaviour of the refractory materials under static and dynamic conditions, on the thermal and mechanical properties of intermediate joining layers, on irradiation effects on graphite and carbon fibre composites, and on the relevance of the graphite thermal conductivity in the plasma-to-coolant direction and of its strength under cyclic tensile stresses in the perpendicular direction.