The model results capture key aspects of experimental behavior, and provide design criteria for averting failure. The results in Fig. show that in-plane stresses slightly larger than 𝑃𝑃 should deflect dendrites of any initial orientation, 𝛽𝛽, to a final angle 𝜃𝜃 = 90°, thereby averting cell shorting. Figure plots the most energetically favorable propagation angle as a function of the load (given as 𝜎𝜎 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 /𝑃𝑃) and the initial crack inclination, 𝛽𝛽. For a given 𝛽𝛽, compressive 𝜎𝜎 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 increases the propagation angle 𝜃𝜃 for all 𝛽𝛽 (consistent with Fig. ), whereas tensile 𝜎𝜎 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 decreases 𝛽𝛽. A critical stress exists for reaching the design objective 𝜃𝜃 = 90°. For some range of 𝜃𝜃 < 90°, short-circuiting may still be avoided depending on the thickness and lateral dimensions of the solid electrolyte. However, for compressive stress, 𝜃𝜃 is always larger than 𝛽𝛽 until 𝛽𝛽 reaches 90°. Note that a relatively small overstress provides a substantial margin of safety; Fig. shows that a compressive stress only 10% larger than 𝑃𝑃 (i.e., 𝜎𝜎 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 ≈ 1.1𝑃𝑃) forces 𝜃𝜃 = 90° for all initial angles 𝛽𝛽. This result is consistent with the experimental observation (Figs. ) that a 200 MPa load repeatedly deflects all observed filaments to 𝜃𝜃 ≈ 90°. In the following section, we model the critical stress and corresponding engineering requirements for dendrite deflection in solid-state battery architectures.