Minimum factor of safety
Minimum factor of safety
(OP)
Hello,
According to Geoslope manual (I guess you would find the same explaination in other manuals or books) "the contours indicate
that the minimum safety factor has been found."
I don't really understand - geometrically or physically - why having a FoS contoured implies that the minumum has been found.
Could it be that, as you go away from this FoS, the radius increases, most likely the length of the slip surface too, and in turn the shear resistance?
Thanks!
Ben
According to Geoslope manual (I guess you would find the same explaination in other manuals or books) "the contours indicate
that the minimum safety factor has been found."
I don't really understand - geometrically or physically - why having a FoS contoured implies that the minumum has been found.
Could it be that, as you go away from this FoS, the radius increases, most likely the length of the slip surface too, and in turn the shear resistance?
Thanks!
Ben
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RE: Minimum factor of safety
For a simple slope, with constant radius surfaces the statement may make sense. But how do you plot contours for differing radius from the same center, or for that matter contours for block surfaces (which are more often that not give lower factors of safety).
The contours are a nice way of plotting the results,and show that you looked at a lot of surfaces. You still have to use your judgment to convince yourself you have found the minimum.
RE: Minimum factor of safety