×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Factor of safety

Factor of safety

Factor of safety

(OP)
Why is the factor of safety against a retaining wall overturning greater than the safety factor against sliding?

RE: Factor of safety

I think the most common design safety factor used for retaining wall stability is 1.5, both for overturning and sliding.  What is the basis of your question?  

RE: Factor of safety

i thought 2.0 for overturn and 1.5 for sliding was the most typical. i hadn't ever thought about why before... and don't have a wild speculation to offer yet .... maybe next month or after a few more beers.

RE: Factor of safety

Stress distribution and resulting failure...

There is a potential for more stress distribution in sliding. Further, overturning is usually a "catastrophic" event, whereas sliding is generally not.

 

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources