Equivalence of Physically Based Statistical Fracture Theories for Reliability Analysis of Ceramics in Multiaxial Loading

Two weakest‐link fracture statistics formulations for multiaxial loading, Batdorf's flaw density and orientation distribution approach and Evans' elemental strength approach, are compared for identical fracture criteria and distribution functions. It is demonstrated that despite some fundamental differences in the methodology used in calculating fracture probabilities for multiaxial loading the two approaches give identical predictions. A recent contradictory conclusion reported in the literature is shown to be incorrect.