Functionally graded SUS316-Al₂O₃ beams with ceramic content varying from 0 to 40% were prepared by a plasma spraying technique. Nonlinear finite element analysis was used to obtain the static deflection and free vibration of a clamped-free functionally graded beam. Von Kármán geometric nonlinearity and power law variation in material gradation through the beam thickness are considered in the analysis. The maximum error between the experimental and nonlinear finite element results for deflection is 6.68% and 14.31% on the fundamental frequency. Numerical results have also been attempted using ANSYS 3D solid element and they compare more closely with the experimental results.