PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite structure having components with a graded coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) so as to connect two structures with a very different CTE, and to provide a method for producing a composite structure with the graded CTE. SOLUTION: An integrated composite structure with the graded coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is formed by selecting a plurality of layers of materials with the graded CTE and using build-up (bottom-up) fabrication approaches such as metal deposition or powder metallurgy to produce a CTE-graded layered composite preform, which is then consolidated and heat treated to create the CTE-graded integrated composite billet or near net shape. The integrated composite billet or near net shape is then processed to produce a first surface for attachment of a first structural member having a first CTE and to produce a second surface for attachment of a second structural member having a second CTE. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT