Given: Each cable of the Brooklyn Bridge has an Ultimate Strength of 24,600 kips. The design load for each cable is 6,000 kips.
Req'd: Determine the design Factor of Safety.
F.S. = (±1%)
Sol'n: The design factor of safety is FS = (Ultimate Load) / (Design Load):
FS = (24,600 kips)/(6000 kips) = FS = 4.1
Recall that 1 kip = 1000 lb.