What is the factor of safety designed into cast iron flywheels?

Cast iron flywheels are designed with a factor of safety in the range of 10 to 13 primarily due to their applications in machinery where they absorb and release energy during operation. The factor of safety accounts for potential variations in material properties, manufacturing tolerances, load conditions, and unforeseen stresses.

The higher factor of safety is necessary to ensure reliability and prevent failure under dynamic loading conditions that flywheels encounter. Since cast iron is a brittle material, its inherent lack of ductility necessitates a more conservative design approach to handle potential stress concentrations and fatigue over time.

By utilizing a factor of safety between 10 and 13, engineers can ensure that even if the material experiences unexpected loads or defects, the flywheel will remain operational without risk of catastrophic failure.