Factor Of Safety (Noun)
Meaning
The ratio of the breaking stress of a structure to the estimated maximum stress in ordinary use.
Classification
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas.
Examples
- The engineer calculated the factor of safety for the bridge to ensure it could withstand strong winds and heavy traffic.
- A factor of safety of 2 means that the structure can withstand twice the maximum stress expected in normal use.
- The architect specified a factor of safety of 3 for the building's foundation to account for uncertainties in the soil conditions.
- The manufacturer designed the machine with a factor of safety of 1.5 to minimize the risk of mechanical failure.
- The engineer's report recommended a factor of safety of 2.5 for the dam to ensure it could withstand extreme flooding events.