A geotechnical engineer calculates the factor of safety for a slope with a resisting force of 45,000 kN and a driving force of 30,000 kN. What is the factor of safety?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:07:29 +0000

**A geotechnical engineer calculates the factor of safety for a slope with a resisting force of 45,000 kN and a driving force of 30,000 kN. What is the factor of safety?** In soil mechanics, safety isn’t intuitive—especially when designing slopes that support powerful earth pressures. When engineers evaluate slope stability, they rely on a fundamental ratio: the factor of safety. This critical metric compares a slope’s ability to resist movement (resisting force) to the forces pushing a slope toward collapse (driving force). With resisting forces set at 45,000 kN and driving forces at 30,000 kN, understanding this calculation reveals valuable insights about structural integrity—and why this simple number matters across civil infrastructure, environmental engineering, and construction planning. In recent years, growing demand for safer infrastructure has fueled attention on slope design, particularly in development projects near hillsides, pipeline corridors, or urban expansion zones. Public interest in resilient construction, disaster preparedness, and geotechnical risk mitigation reflects a broader awareness of the hidden engineering that protects communities. This calculation sits at the heart of those efforts, illustrating how engineers balance risk through precise measurements rather than guesswork. So, what exactly does the factor of safety represent in real-world terms? At its core, it answers the question: how much stronger is the slope than what is needed to remain stable? A value above 1 means the resisting forces exceed the driving forces—indicating stability. In this case, the 45,000 kN resisting force comfortably surpasses the 30,000 kN driving force, yielding a factor of safety equal to 1.5. This 1.5 ratio means the slope has a solid buffer against small disturbances—offering reassurance without over-engineering.