Applying safety factors
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Flip to reveal answersState the safety factor formula both ways round.
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All 4 Flashcards — Applying safety factors
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Question
State the safety factor formula both ways round.
Answer
SF = ultimate ÷ allowable. Rearranged: allowable = ultimate ÷ SF, and required ultimate = allowable × SF.
Question
What is the maximum intended load?
Answer
The heaviest plausible user, plus anything carried, plus the dynamic peak from jumping or swinging, plus realistic misuse — never the average user.
Question
How is a section sized from a safety factor?
Answer
Required ultimate load = working load × SF. Required area = that load ÷ the material's ultimate stress. Then round up to a standard stocked size.
Question
Why is a very large safety factor a poor answer?
Answer
It costs material, mass, money and embodied impact, can make the product worse to use, and can hide sloppy analysis. Reducing uncertainty by testing is often better.
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Topic 7.2 hub
Structural systems applied
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