Explain the term factor of safety. - Leaving Cert Engineering - Question h - 2012

The factor of safety is a crucial engineering concept that refers to the degree of structural capacity available beyond the maximum expected loads. It acts as a safety margin, ensuring that structures can withstand unexpected stresses or failures that may occur over their lifespan.

Mathematically, the factor of safety (FS) can be expressed as:

$FS = \frac{\text{Ultimate Load}}{\text{Working Load}}$

This equation illustrates that the factor of safety is the ratio of the load that a structure can ultimately withstand (ultimate load) to the load it is designed to support under normal conditions (working load). A higher factor of safety indicates a more robust design that can handle greater loads and conditions, thereby reducing the risk of failure.