Uniaxial Stress Research Articles

A new stress measurement strategy based on time-frequency characteristics of Lamb waves

Existing stress evaluation methods based on the Lamb waves mainly use the time of flight (TOF) or velocity as the means of stress measurement. However, these two features used for stress measurement are sometimes insensitive to stress changes. Therefore, it is essential to explore other features that are potentially more sensitive to stress changes. The time–frequency spectrums of signals containing stress information have not yet been fully studied for stress evaluation. This paper proposes a uniaxial stress measurement method based on two time–frequency characteristics of Lamb waves, i.e., the slope of time–frequency spectrum distribution (TFSD) and pulse width impact factor. Theoretical expressions of the slope of TFSD are derived. The impacts of excitation signal parameters (i.e., bandwidth and center frequency) and noise on two time–frequency characteristics were discussed. Then, the fitting results of the finite element simulation are consistent with the results predicted by theory. To experimentally validate the proposed theory, aluminum plate specimens with two different types of adhesives were used for the experiment. According to the experimental stress measurement expression, three uniaxial tensile tests in the range of 35–95 MPa were conducted on the identical batch of specimens. The maximum standard deviation of multiple measured stress based on pulse width impact factor is 3.76433 MPa, demonstrating excellent measurement stability. The maximum standard deviation of multiple measured stress based on the slope of TFSD is 9.12492 MPa. It shows that the proposed methodology is a promising alternative for stress measurement.

Extreme temperature gradient promoting oxygen diffusion in yttria‐stabilized zirconia: A molecular dynamics study

AbstractThe oxidation resistance of yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings and conductivity of YSZ solid oxide fuel cells are closely related to the diffusion of oxygen ions () in YSZ, but the diffusion behavior in small‐sized YSZ samples under non‐isothermal condition where the temperature gradient () could be significant remaining elusive. Herein, we disclose the previously unrevealed effect of extreme on the self‐diffusion behavior of in both pristine and strained YSZ. It is found that the self‐diffusion coefficient () experiences a nearly one‐fold increase under an extreme around 60 K/Å. The diffusion direction tends to be toward regions of high temperature. Uniaxial stress is revealed to reduce due to the increased activation energy of ions, whereas promotes the self‐diffusion in the stressed system. These results underscore the role of in influencing the self‐diffusion behavior of YSZ, providing a theoretical guideline for examining ceramics serving in extreme environments.

Graph theoretical analysis of limestone fracture network damage patterns based on uniaxial compression test

The topological attributes of fracture networks in limestone, subject to intense hydrodynamics and intricate geological discontinuities, substantially influence the mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of the rock mass. The dynamical evolution of fracture networks under stress is crucial for unveiling the interaction patterns among fractures. However, existing models are undirected graphs focused on stationary topology, which need optimization to depict fractures' dynamic development and rupture process. To compensate for the time and destruction terms, we propose the damage network model, which defines the physical interpretation of fractures through the ternary motif. We focus primarily on the evolution of node types, topological attributes, and motifs of the fracture network in limestone under uniaxial stress. Observations expose the varying behavior of the nodes' self-dynamics and neighbors' adjacent dynamics in the fracture network. This approach elucidates the impact of micro-crack behaviors on large brittle shear fractures from a topological perspective and further subdivides the progressive failure stage into four distinct phases (isolated crack growth phase, crack splay phase, damage coalescence phase, and mechanical failure phase) based on the significance profile of the motif. Regression analysis reveals a positive linear and negative power correlation between fracture network density and branch number to the rock damage resistance, respectively. The damage network model introduces a novel methodology for depicting the interaction of two-dimensional (2D) projected fractures, considering the dynamic spatiotemporal development characteristics and fracture geometric variation. It helps dynamically characterize properties such as connectivity, permeability, and damage factors while comprehensively assessing damage in rock mass fracture networks.

Determination of the dynamic Young's modulus of quantum materials in piezoactuator-driven uniaxial pressure cells using a low-frequency AC method.

We report on a new technique for measuring the dynamic Young's modulus, E, of quantum materials at low temperatures as a function of static tuning strain, ϵ, in piezoactuator-driven pressure cells. In addition to a static tuning of stress and strain, we apply a small-amplitude, finite-frequency AC (1Hz ≲ ω ≲ 1000Hz) uniaxial stress, σac, to the sample and measure the resulting AC strain, ϵac, using a capacitive sensor to obtain the associated modulus E. We demonstrate the performance of the new technique through proof-of-principle experiments on the unconventional superconductor Sr2RuO4, which is known for its rich temperature-strain phase diagram. In particular, we show that the magnitude of E, measured using this AC technique at low frequencies, exhibits a pronounced nonlinear elasticity, which is in very good agreement with previous Young's modulus measurements on Sr2RuO4 under [1 0 0] strain using a DC method [Noad etal., Science 382, 447-450 (2023)]. By combining the new AC Young's modulus measurements with AC elastocaloric measurements in a single measurement, we demonstrate that these AC techniques are powerful in detecting small anomalies in the elastic properties of quantum materials. Finally, using the case of Sr2RuO4 as an example, we demonstrate how the imaginary component of the modulus can provide additional information about the nature of ordered phases.

The uniaxial compressive strength of concrete: revisited

This paper re-examines common notions and conventions regarding the compressive strength of concrete in general and of the uniaxial compressive strength of concrete in particular. A distinction is introduced between the strength of the specimen and the strength of the concrete as a material, and the commonly measured and adopted strength is shown to be the specimen’s strength, wrongly interpreted as the material’s strength. the two major damage modes of concrete specimens (with the formation of either longitudinal cracks or shear bands) are discussed. Such failure modes are wrongly considered as features of concrete behavior in uniaxial compression, but this is not the case. Longitudinal cracking is due to lateral expansion (Poisson’s effect) and occurs at a relatively low applied load in absence of friction at specimen’s top and bottom boundaries. Shear failure (accompanied by the formation of an inclined shear band) is related to the shear envelope parameters that are related to the concrete mixture, but the applied ultimate pressure is not the concrete uniaxial compressive strength. Hence, though caused by applied compressive loading, these failure modes are little/hardly related to the concrete material intended as the ultimate uniaxial stress (strength) corresponding to a maximum value of the uniaxial compressive strain. Using the shear envelope parameters has been proven to yield a very good prediction of the applied compressive loading of the specimen in the limit state, as a demonstration that the applied pressure at specimen’s failure resulting from the formation of inclined fracture bands is the specimen’s failure strength, and not the material’s compressive strength! Reasons are given against the existence of a uniaxial compressive strength failure for concrete, and a piece of evidence in this direction is provided by concrete specimens subjected to pure hydrostatic compression, that do not fail at all. The entire issue requires, therefore, a deep revisiting and re-thinking, to provide correct measures for representing concrete response under compression in analysis and design.

Dualistic effect of the deformation of protective structures made of broken rock in mine workings under static load

Purpose is to reveal physical essence of the dualistic (double) nature of deformation effects and their influence on the mechanical properties of protective structures made of broken rock while unloading coal-bearing mass to ensure stability of side rocks and operational conditions of the development mine working within the working areas of coal mines. Methods. The deformation properties of protective structures made of broken rock was modeled on experimental samples during their static load in terms of uniaxial compression with the possibility of lateral expansion of the original material or its compressive stress. Findings. A dualistic effect of deformations for the conditions of uniaxial compression of protective structures was revealed. Under the effect, a complex transformation of volume and shape occurs in the structures caused by the process of relative changes in the backfill material volume. The observed phenomenon occurs within the range of 0.12 ≤δV ≤ 0.32 and the values of the compaction coefficient of broken rock being 1.13≤k con. ≤ 1.47, depending on the granulometric composition of the source material and its bulk density. It was established that under conditions when broken rock is compressed, there is an effect of forming the bearing capacity of protective structures, which is observed when a relative change in the volume of backfill material is 0.14 ≤ δV ≤ 0.38, and its compaction factor reaches 1.16 ≤ kcon. ≤ 1.59. Depending on the homogeneity degree of the backfill material of protective structures, when comparing the values of kcon., a dualistic (double) effect is manifested in the difference of deformation characteristics of broken rock under uniaxial and compressive stress, reaching two or more times. Originality. A regularity was established that determines the relationship between compaction factor kcon. of broken rock and a relative change in the volume (δV) of backfill material, which makes it possible to evaluate bearing capacity of protective structures, being under static load in a stress-strain state. Practical implications. The research results can be used to substantiate the selection of a method to protect development mine working with flexible supports made of broken rock. To clarify the assessment of bearing capacity of such structures, it is advisable to carry out specific field studies in mine conditions.

Effect of temperature and humidity on mechanical properties and constitutive modeling of pressure-sensitive adhesives

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are crucial for the structural and functional integrity of flexible displays. Investigating the intricate mechanical properties of PSAs can help enhance product quality and performance. This study conducts systematic mechanical tests, including uniaxial tensile, compression, planar shear, and stress relaxation, on PSAs at temperatures ranging from – 25 to 85 ℃ and relative humidity levels from 0 to 90%. Our findings reveal that the Anssari-Benam model accurately describes the hyperelastic behavior of PSA materials under large deformation, outperforming the Ogden model by requiring fewer parameters and better preserving convexity. Moreover the results show that temperature markedly affects PSA properties, particularly near the glass transition temperature (Tg), with lower temperatures leading to decreased elasticity and higher temperatures aiding in stress relaxation. Similarly, humidity impacts PSA behavior, increasing elasticity and decreasing stiffness, especially noticeable in stress relaxation tests. These findings highlight the substantial influence of environmental conditions on the material properties of PSAs and underscore the necessity of understanding both hyperelastic and viscoelastic responses for their application in flexible technologies. This research provides critical insights for the optimal utilization of PSAs in the rapidly evolving field of flexible electronics, including OLED displays.

ODF-based model considering compressive stress for modeling the magnetic properties of Grain-oriented electrical steels

Grain-oriented electrical steels (GOES) are widely used in the manufacturing of high efficiency energy conversion systems thanks to their excellent magnetic properties along the rolling direction. Nevertheless, on the one hand, GOES exhibit strong magnetic anisotropy, resulting in distinct magnetic properties regarding the direction of the applied magnetic field to the rolling direction. On the other hand, GOES undergoes changes in their magnetic properties due to the industrial manufacturing process and mechanical constraints during operation. In general, stress, and particularly compressive stress, deteriorates magnetic properties. This paper deals with the modeling of the magnetic behavior of GOES under compressive stress. The orientation distribution function (ODF) based approach recently applied to describe the B-H first magnetization curves of a conventional GOES without stress as well as under applied uniaxial mechanical tensile stress is extended to account for the effect of compressive stress, with different considerations of modeling. The magnetic properties and the sensitivity of the ODF-based model to the magnetization direction as well as to the applied compressive stress are analyzed. Oscillation issues inherent to the ODF-based model are also discussed.

Increasing control over biomineralization in conodont evolution

Vertebrates use the phosphate mineral apatite in their skeletons, which allowed them to develop tissues such as enamel, characterized by an outstanding combination of hardness and elasticity. It has been hypothesized that the evolution of the earliest vertebrate skeletal tissues, found in the teeth of the extinct group of conodonts, was driven by adaptation to dental function. We test this hypothesis quantitatively and demonstrate that the crystallographic order increased throughout the early evolution of conodont teeth in parallel with morphological adaptation to food processing. With the c-axes of apatite crystals oriented perpendicular to the functional feeding surfaces, the strongest resistance to uniaxial compressional stress is conferred along the long axes of denticles. Our results support increasing control over biomineralization in the first skeletonized vertebrates and allow us to test models of functional morphology and material properties across conodont dental diversity.

Electromechanical properties of BS-PT ceramics under uniaxial pressure and hydrostatic pressure

The increasing demands of device applications in harsh environments have led to higher expectations for temperature and pressure resistance in high-temperature piezoelectric materials. In order to understand the performance characteristics of BiScO3-PbTiO3 (BS-PT) high-temperature piezoelectric materials in practical device applications, this study focuses on analyzing the dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties of BS-64PT ceramics under uniaxial stress up to 150 MPa, as well as its electromechanical performance under a hydrostatic pressure of up to 400 MPa. As the uniaxial pressure increases, both the bias-field and large-signal piezoelectric coefficients exhibit a pattern of initially increasing and subsequently decreasing. Furthermore, the bias-field piezoelectric coefficient exceeds 450 pC/N and the large-signal piezoelectric coefficient surpasses 630 pC/N under uniaxial pressures below 100 MPa. This highlights their exceptional resistance to depolarization caused by uniaxial stress. To obtain more precise piezoelectric properties for BS-64PT ceramics in the 31 and 33 modes under hydrostatic pressure, the admittance fitting method was utilized. This method takes into account the significant losses at higher pressures. Within the pressure range of 0–400 MPa, the values of d33 and d31 for BS-64PT ceramics exhibited a minor change of 7.6% and 8%, respectively. These findings indicate that BS-64PT ceramics exhibit more stable piezoelectric properties under both uniaxial and hydrostatic pressures when compared to the majority of Pb-based perovskite-structured materials. The exceptional stability of piezoelectric properties in BS-PT ceramics can be primarily attributed to their elevated anisotropy energy or coercivity field compared to other perovskite-structured Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) / Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT)-based ceramics reported.

A Color Indicator Based on 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) and a Biodegradable Poly(ester amide) for Detecting Bacterial Contamination.

Bacterial contamination is a hazard in many industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. The availability of a rapid and simple method for detecting this type of contamination in sterile areas enables immediate intervention to avoid or reduce detrimental effects. Among these methods, colorimetric indicators are becoming increasingly popular due to their affordability, ease of use, and quick visual interpretation of the signal. In this article, a bacterial contamination indicator system was designed by incorporating MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) into an electrospun PADAS matrix, which is a biodegradable poly(ester amide) synthesized from L-alanine, 1,12-dodecanediol, and sebacic acid. Uniaxial stress testing, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and morphology of the mats, respectively. The capacity for bacterial detection was not only analyzed with agar and broth assays but also by replicating important environmental conditions. Among the MTT concentrations tested in this study (0.2%, 2%, and 5%), it was found that only with a 2% MTT content the designed system produced a color response visible to the naked eye with optimal intensity, a sensitivity limit of 104 CFU/mL, and 86% cell viability, which showed the great potential for its use to detect bacterial contamination. In summary, by means of the process described in this work, it was possible to obtain a simple, low-cost and fast-response bacterial contamination indicator that can be used in mask filters, air filters, or protective clothing.

Fatigue performance testing and life prediction of welded fuel pipes

The external piping system which connects power devices, valve control devices, actuators, etc. is an essential system on the aero engine. Under the combined effects of high fluid pressure and external vibration, multiaxial fatigue failure is the main factor that seriously affects the safety of the piping system. The objective of this paper is to establish the multiaxial fatigue life model for the typical welded fuel pipe of the piping system by combining fatigue testing, simulation and theoretical analysis which is of great guiding significance for the engineering application of the piping system. Firstly, the fatigue limits of welded fuel pipes under no and 13.5 MPa internal pressure are obtained by rotational bending fatigue tests using the up-and-down method. Three additional stress levels of rotational bending fatigue tests under no internal pressure are supplemented and then the S-N curve is further obtained by the group method. Since the corresponding fracture surface of the specimens locates at the weld toe near the fixed end, peak stress method is adopted to evaluate the fatigue performance of the weld toe on the pipe specimens. In addition, by comparing the fatigue limit with no and 13.5 MPa internal pressured pipes, it is obvious that the equivalent uniaxial stress corrected by Gerber formula is not applicable for the multiaxial fatigue condition which is caused by the combined effect of fluid pressure and displacement load. The local stress concentration factor caused by the weld toe is determined and based on Findley critical plane model, the multiaxial fatigue life model is established which simultaneously takes the local stress concentration effect, mean stress effect and multiaxial stress effect into consideration. The results of rotational bending fatigue tests under 13.5 MPa internal pressure are within the triple error dispersion band and the accuracy of the proposed life model are verified.

Shear-promoted graphite-to-diamond phase transition at the grain boundary of nanocrystalline graphite

High pressure has traditionally been considered essential for the transformation of graphite into diamond. However, reducing the transition pressure required for this graphite-to-diamond (G2D) conversion holds significant appeal in both scientific research and engineering applications. In this study, we conducted large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using an environment-dependent interaction potential (EDIP) to examine the shear deformation of nanocrystalline graphite (n-graphite) with a grain size of approximately 6.5 nm. We discovered that the G2D transition pressure in n-graphite can be reduced to 2–3 GPa, significantly lower than the ∼90 GPa uniaxial stress required in crystalline graphite. This reduction is primarily due to concentrated local shear stresses at grain boundaries (GBs), which induce substantial rotations of graphite layers. These rotations facilitate the initial formation of diamond bonds at sites of pre-existing imperfections at the GBs, assisted by shear. Once initiated at the GBs, the G2D transition rapidly propagates within grains aligned parallel to the shear components, resulting in the formation of nanocrystalline diamond. Our findings underscore the critical roles of GBs and shear stress in enabling the G2D transition in n-graphite.

Modelling the mechanics of 32 T REBCO superconductor magnet using numerical simulation

High-temperature REBCO superconducting tapes are very promising for high-field magnets. With high magnetic field applications there are high electromechanical forces, and thus a concern for mechanical damage. Due to the presence of large screening currents and the composite structure of the tape, the mechanical design of these magnets is not straightforward. In addition, many contemporary designs use insulated winding. In this work, we develop a novel two-dimensional axi-symmetric finite element tool programmed in MATLAB that assumes the displacement field to be within a linear elastic range. The stack of pancakes and the large number of REBCO tape turns are approximated as an anisotropic bulk hollow cylinder. Our results agree with uni-axial stress experiments in the literature, validating the bulk approximation. Here, we study the following configuration. The current is first ramped up to below the critical current and we calculate the screening currents and the forces that they cause using the minimum electromagnetic entropy production method (MEMEP) model. This electromagnetic model can now take insulated magnets into account. As a case study, a 32 T REBCO superconductor magnet is simulated numerically. We perform a complete mechanical analysis of the magnet by including the axial and shear mechanical quantities for each pancake, unlike in previous work where only radial and circumferential quantities were focused on. The effect on mechanical quantities without the screening current is also calculated and compared. It is shown that including the screening current-induced field strongly affects the mechanical quantities, especially the shear stress. The latter may be a critical quantity for certain magnet configurations. Additionally, in order to overcome high stresses, a stiff overbanding of different materials is considered and numerically modelled, which significantly reduces the mechanical stresses. The finite element-based model developed is efficient in calculating the mechanical behaviour of any general superconductor magnet and its devices.

Gradient failure mechanism and control technology of deep roadways under the action of deviatoric stress field

Deformation control of deep roadways is a major challenge for mine safety production. Taking a deep roadway with a burial depth of 965 m in a mine in North China as the engineering background, on-site investigation found that significant creep deformation occurred in the surrounding rock of the roadway. The original supporting U-shaped steel support failed due to insufficient supporting strength. The rock mass near the roadway experienced a transition from triaxial stress conditions to biaxial and even uniaxial stress states as a result of excavation and unloading, leading to a gradient stress distribution in the surrounding rock. From the perspective of the roadway's deviatoric stress field distribution, we investigated the gradient failure mechanism of the roadway and validated it through theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. The study found that the ratio of horizontal principal stress and vertical principal stress determines the distribution shape of the surrounding rock deviatoric stress field. The gradient distribution of the stress field in the roadway will cause time-related deformation of the roadway, which will lead to large deformation and failure of the roadway. Based on this, the control mechanism of roadway gradient failure was studied, and then a combined support technology of CFST supports with high bearing capacity was proposed.

Characterization of two types of modified sulphur pellets for sulphur-extended asphalt mixtures

The application of sulphur to partially replace traditional bituminous binder in asphalt mixture can offer attractive technical, economic and environmental advantages. Globally, Kazakhstan is the seventh largest producer of sulphur as this element is abundantly generated by many petroleum refining industries. This study concisely evaluates the performance of asphalt mixtures added with two types of modified sulphur pellets pivoting on laboratory and field investigations. Wheel track tests indicate a substantial reduction in rutting development for sulphur-extended asphalts (average final value ≈ 2 mm) compared to unmodified ones (average final value ≈ 7 mm). Further, uniaxial tension stress tests evaluating the durability at −20 °C, −30 °C, −40 °C document very similar results between modified and regular mixtures in terms of tensile strength and corresponding failure strain. Eventually, the construction of a pilot road surface stretch laid employing the sulphur-based pellets points at an approximate 5 % economic saving. Such promising experimental outcomes buttress the application suitability of sulphur-extended asphalt mixtures in Kazakhstan and encourage further thorough research in this direction.

Extraction of uniaxial stress–strain curve from bending test using DIC measurements

This paper presents a novel methodology for the analytical determination of the uniaxial tensile/compressive stress–strain curve derived from the four-point bending test without a pre-assumed constitutive model. While the concept of extracting the stress–strain curve from a bending test is not new, the proposed methodology differs from existing methods by recognising the force equilibrium in a deformed configuration, resulting in a temporal variation of both a bending moment and an axial force. In addition, the deformation of the beam cross-section is taken into account according to the principles of finite strain theory either via Poisson’s ratio or by assuming volume conservation. The crucial data for this methodology are obtained from an experimentally conducted bending test in which the loading force, displacement and strain fields at the top, bottom and front faces of the specimen are measured using a stereo DIC. While the method is completely analytical, it reconstructs the stress–strain curve in discrete form by solving a system of linear equations. While the existing methods for the four-point bending test allow extraction of the stress–strain curve from a single experiment only for strains up to a few per cent, our methodology allows the extraction of the stress–strain curve in tension and compression up to five times the strains obtained with methods that neglect the above features.

The Formation of the Strength of Castings including Stress and Strain Analysis.

This article presents some views on the subject of self- or residual stresses, trying to clarify some erroneously seemingly ingrained formulations in the introduction, which are widely used in castings and their classification (thermal, shrinkage, and phase stresses). For example, the location of their occurrence is often not specified, nor in which cross sections (volumes) they balance. In thin bars there are uniaxial stresses and in thin plates, stresses in two orthogonal directions are considered, while in castings, which are always three-dimensional objects, stresses in all planes should be considered. Meanwhile, to make matters worse, the complexity of calculations and possible experiments is rapidly increasing from the 1-axis to the 3-axis condition. A detailed analysis is made of how tensile and compressive stresses are calculated as a function of casting wall thickness, taking into account heat flow between walls of different thicknesses. The article presents selected methods of stress and strain testing, with particular emphasis on elasto-optical testing.

Uniaxial‐Stress Driven Performance Enhancement of Multi‐Beam Spark Plasma Sintered BiSbTe/Epoxy Flexible Films

AbstractThe multi‐beam discharge plasma sintering (MB‐SPS) method is successfully applied to the preparation of Bi2Te3‐based thermoelectric (TE) films with insulating substrates. Herein, the impact of uniaxial stress on the microstructure evolution and TE performance are explored systematically. The results indicate that the increase of uniaxial stress promotes the preferential growth of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (BST) grains along the (000l) crystal plane, leading to the remarkable increase in carrier mobility. The maximum (000l) preferential orientation factor reaches 80% for the BST/epoxy (EP) film sintered under 25 MPa, which is 3.08 times higher than that of BST/EP film sintered at 10 MPa. While the highest power factor reaches 2.36 mW m−1 K−2 at 300 K for the BST/EP film sintered under 20 MPa, increased by 97% as compared with that of the film sintered under 10 MPa. This work once again confirms that the MB‐SPS technology is an effective approach to prepare high‐performance Bi2Te3‐based films with insulating substrates and demonstrates that the (000l) preferential orientation and TE performance of the films can be further enhanced by an appropriate uniaxial stress.

Evaluation of Slow-Releasing Energy Material (SREMA) Injection for In-Situ Rock Breaking Under Uniaxial and Triaxial Loading: An Experimental Study

Permeability enhancement of impervious rock formations is crucial for the exploitation of ore deposits, which are uneconomic using conventional mining methods. These deposits have the potential to be mined with in-situ recovery (ISR) mining methods, provided the deposit’s permeability is enhanced artificially. Slow-releasing energy material (SREMA) has been identified as a promising preconditioning technique to enhance rock permeability for ISR. However, the fracturing potential of SREMA in the presence of in-situ stresses remains under-explored in laboratory experimental research studies and needs to be assessed in detail prior to field trials. A unique confining cell was developed in this study to represent realistic confining stresses underground, and the impacts of different stress conditions on the fracturing potential of SREMA were investigated. In addition, the effects of SREMA expansion in pre-existing joints were also assessed using laboratory fracturing experiments conducted by injecting SREMA into sandstone specimens with artificially created horizontal persistent joints, which is the first attempt to the best of the author’s knowledge. Under uniaxial stress conditions (10 MPa), multiple radial cracks emerged from the borehole at the centre of the specimen, while vertical splitting of the specimen was observed due to the outward expansion of SREMA inside the joint. In comparison, under triaxial confinement (5 MPa and 10 MPa), a decrease in the damage caused to the rock mass due to the expansive pressure generated by SREMA was observed, and this was overcome by introducing multiple injection holes and stress relief holes into the rock mass.