safety factor
Noun
Meaning
the ratio of the breaking stress of a structure to the estimated maximum stress in ordinary use
Source: WordNetSynonyms
factor of safety
load factor
margin of safety
safety margin
confidence limits
partial factor
safety ratio
partial safety factor
reduction coefficient
strength reduction factor
factors of safety
risk free rate
safety coefficient
safety factors
security factor
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Hypernyms
Examples
It's a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one's safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.
Emphasis was usually put on the horizontal acceleration factor, for the simple reason that ordinary structures have a built-in safety factor for the vertical component; that is, gravity.