There different ways to define factor of safety. For classical strength reduction method, only the shear strenght is used. For your case, shear strenght is 0 and base shear is also zero, so 0/0 is correct for strength reduction, and it is indeterminate based on this definition. It is not wrong, as there is no shear strength and base shear. cMg/T.O
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For your second definition K=1.0, it is a factor of safety based o the system, not just the shear strength. YV
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So both factors of safety are correct, but they are different factors of safety. You have assumed them to have the same meaning ? [=Z{y8#:J
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Both factors of safety are also used, depending on your view. There are even engineers who compute both factors of safety and choose the smaller value. This issue has been well discussed in the last 20 years, so no one disucss it now. May be you can refer to these old references to see the arguments (I think 1 report by Institution of Structural Engineers 20-25 years ago, the other reference is in Geotechnique, also more than 10 years ago) Ua]zTMI
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You are correct that very few engineers in China notice about two different definitions of safety. Also look up the user guide of program SLIDE, it is also documented there. May be you should alert the engineers about the existence of at least two definitions (there are even more definitions). However, strength reduction method cannot be taken as wrong. Without external load, it is the same as the other definition. With external load, engineers should pick up his own definition FOS to shear strength or FOS to system. These two definitions are different.