The design specification for Chinese hydraulic retaining wall (SL_379-2007) uses the safety factor criterion in stability analysis

whose allowable values are stipulated in a range of 1.20 to 1.35

which is much smaller than those specified in the overseas design regulations. In this paper

a probabilistic analysis approach is used to establish the relationship between the target reliability index and safety factor. Results show that the factors of safety follow a log-normal distribution relationship. The related criterion for the ‘Safety Margin Ratio (SMR)’ has been updated. The study uses a target case that has a reliability index of 3.2. It has been found that the allowable factor of safety is in a range between 1.43 and 1.55. Using the SMR approach

the authors further demonstrate that the calibrated allowable factor of safety is equally allocable to the extended target cases that involve different geometric and shear strength values of this retaining wall. The method and analytical results described in this paper are useful for regulation makers.