Validation of local approach‐based statistical models for cleavage fracture of ferritic steels in uniaxial tension

Five major local approach (LA)‐based statistical cleavage fracture models are evaluated in uniaxial tension. The focus is to inspect their mathematical conformity to the axiom of probability on normality and their physical adherence to the consensus that cleavage fracture occurs after plastic deformation. Only the LA model that incorporates a stress‐state and temperature dependent threshold satisfies both requirements. Two sets of experimental data in uniaxial tension are analyzed to support the arguments.