1. What is Factor of Safety?

The Factor of Safety (FoS) is a measure of structural capacity beyond expected loads or actual loads. It represents how much stronger a system is than it needs to be for an intended load.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic FoS equation:

Where:

• Ultimate Strength — Maximum stress a material can withstand (Pa)
• Working Stress — Actual stress the material experiences during operation (Pa)

Explanation: The ratio compares material strength to actual operational stress to determine safety margin.

3. Importance of FoS Calculation

Details: Proper FoS ensures structures can handle unexpected loads, material defects, or degradation over time while preventing catastrophic failures.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both ultimate strength and working stress in Pascals (Pa). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good Factor of Safety value?
A: Typical FoS ranges from 1.2 to 4.0 depending on application. Critical applications (aircraft, medical) use higher values.

Q2: Can FoS be less than 1?
A: Yes, but this indicates the structure will fail under the working load. Values <1 are used only in controlled failure scenarios.

Q3: How does FoS differ from safety factor?
A: They're often used interchangeably, though some industries make subtle distinctions between the terms.

Q4: When should I use higher FoS values?
A: When material properties are uncertain, loads are unpredictable, or failure consequences are severe.

Q5: Does FoS account for fatigue?
A: Basic FoS doesn't. For cyclic loading, fatigue analysis should be performed separately.