岩层断裂的研究对国民经济具有重要意义。能源的开发和利用、地震的起源和传播以及土木、水利工程等都需要不断地增加对岩层断裂机理和过程的了解。断裂力学的发展以及在金属材料中应用的成功,促使人们想到应该把断裂力学的理论推广到岩层中去。从七十年代中期就有人开始测定岩石的断裂韧性K_(IC),继之开始研究岩层断裂的判据,借以分析岩层断裂的起始和裂纹扩展的规律以及在工程设计中的应用。 The study of rock fracture is of great significance to the national economy. The development and utilization of energy, the origin and dissemination of earthquakes, as well as civil engineering and water conservancy projects all need to continually increase understanding of rock fracture mechanics and processes. The development of fracture mechanics and its success in the application of metallic materials have prompted one to think that the theory of fracture mechanics should be extended to the rock formation. From the mid-seventies, some people began to measure the fracture toughness K_ (IC) of rock, then began to study the criteria of rock fracture, in order to analyze the law of rock fracture initiation and crack propagation and its application in engineering design.