A coefficient that accounts for the geometric shape of a component when calculating physical properties like stress, heat transfer, or drag. In structural mechanics, it relates the maximum stress in a cross-section to the average stress. Engineers use it to adjust theoretical calculations to match the actual physical behavior of irregular shapes.
Heard on the job
The raw calculation looks fine, but once you apply the form factor for that I-beam profile, the safety margin drops below spec.
Also heard as
- shape factor