Field Of Rock Mechanics Research Articles

Experimental research on the glass fiber-reinforced effect and mechanisms of sand powder 3D-printed rock-like materials

Conducting laboratory tests on natural rocks has significant value for the scientific and practical advancement of various types of rock engineering. The investigation of a rock-like materials that is similar in characteristics and structure to natural rock is key to the further advancement of laboratory rock experiments. The rapid development of sand powder 3D printing technology in recent years has provided a solution for fabricating rock-like materials. However, the low strength and elastic modulus of sand powder 3D-printed materials limit their application in simulating natural rocks. Therefore, this paper proposes a method to enhance the mechanical properties of sand powder 3D-printed materials utilizing glass fiber reinforcement by incorporating glass fiber into sand powder 3D-printed rock-like specimens. The mechanical properties and microstructural variations of the specimens with varying glass fiber contents are investigated utilizing mechanical testing, acoustic emission, scanning electron microscopy, etc. The results indicate that (1) it is feasible to utilize glass fiber to enhance the mechanical properties of sand powder 3D-printed materials; (2) The mechanical properties of sand powder 3D printing materials are significantly enhanced by the addition of glass fiber; and (3) the mechanisms controlling the reinforcement effect of glass fiber addition on sand powder 3D-printed specimens are determined by analyzing the microstructural characteristics of the specimens. This study improves the applicability of sand powder 3D-printed materials in simulating natural rock, thereby promoting the further application of 3D printing in the field of rock mechanics.

Applications and state-of-the-art review of pulsed laser ultrafast time-resolution method in the field of rock mechanics

Applications and state-of-the-art review of pulsed laser ultrafast time-resolution method in the field of rock mechanics

Numerical study of voids geometry effects on sandstone’s mesoscopic fracture Mechanism: Insights from acoustic emission and moment tensor inversion

In the field of rock mechanics, the study of void shape on the mechanical properties and fracture mechanisms of sandstone is crucial for the progression of rock engineering practices. In this study, PFC3D is utilized to conduct numerical simulations of uniaxial compression on intact rock and brittle rocks containing five different shapes of voids (including circular, inverted U-shaped, trapezoidal, rectangular, and square). By employing acoustic emission and moment tensor inversion techniques, the microscopic fracture mechanisms of rocks with different void shapes are revealed. Our key findings reveal: (1) The PFC3D’s Soft-Bond Model is adept at simulating acoustic emissions with high accuracy, facilitating an authentic reproduction of the uniaxial compression process in sandstone, including the nonlinear compaction stage. (2) The presence of hole defects markedly undermines the structural strength and deformability of the sandstone, with circular holes having minimal impact, whereas rectangular holes exert the most significant detriment. (3) A thorough analysis of fracture mechanisms demonstrates that specimens with hole defects primarily undergo initial tensile, remote cracks, V-shaped notch, and shear fractures, with shear fractures being pivotal in leading to specimen failure by rapidly evolving into macroscopic fractures that merge with V-shaped notches. (4) Acoustic Emission (AE) analysis highlights the distribution of tensile stress around the upper and lower extremities of the holes and shear stress along the left and right sidewalls, establishing shear stress as the dominant factor in the failure of specimens with hole defects.

Experimental Study on the Butterfly Shape of the Plastic Zone around a Hole near Rock Failure

The precursor of rock failure around a hole has always been one of the research hotspots in the field of rock mechanics, and the distribution of the plastic zone is often adopted to reflect the location and form of rock failure. The shape of the plastic zone around a hole before rock failure can guide the mechanism of and early warning methods for geotechnical engineering disasters, while previous theoretical research and numerical simulation results show that the shape of the plastic zone around the hole is butterfly shaped under specific stress, which is referred to as butterfly failure theory. Studies also indicate that the butterfly shape of the plastic zone around a hole is considered to be the main cause of many disasters, which signifies the importance of studying the morphology of the plastic zone near rock failure. Therefore, this study is committed to finding the specific shape of the plastic zone near rock failure through relatively accurate and a high number of AE event location results, and the final experimental results show that the plastic zone around the hole is basically a butterfly shape near rock failure. This study verifies the correctness of the butterfly failure theory and provides an important reference for the study of geotechnical engineering disaster mechanisms and monitoring methods. The fact that the plastic zone in the early stage of rock failure in this study tends to be butterfly shaped preliminarily indicates the fractal law of rock failure. In the moment before rock failure, the distribution of AE events is more regular, which leads to large-scale collapse type failure.

Study on the rock physical mechanical properties evaluation of tight oil reservoir in Chang 7 member, Longdong area, Ordos Basin, China

The study aims to investigate the rock mechanical properties of the Chang 7 member tight oil reservoir in the Longdong region of the Ordos Basin, China, with the goal of enhancing the efficiency of oilfield development. Despite numerous contributions in the field of rock mechanics, challenges persist in reconciling experimental results with actual geological conditions and achieving comprehensive understanding of rock mechanical properties in tight oil reservoirs. To address this, a variety of experimental methods were employed to systematically assess the mechanical properties of the target reservoir. Rock density was measured using volumetric methods, tensile strength was evaluated through the Brazilian test, uniaxial and triaxial compression tests were conducted to assess rock mechanics properties, and dynamic elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio were obtained via sonic velocity measurements. Furthermore, differential strain analysis and imaging log analysis were employed to determine the magnitude and direction of geostress. The results revealed that fine-grained sandstone exhibited higher rock density and relatively higher tensile strength, while muddy siltstone exhibited comparatively lower values in these aspects. Analysis of the influence of confining pressure on rock mechanics properties demonstrated a strong positive correlation between compressive strength and Young’s modulus with confining pressure, while Poisson’s ratio exhibited more irregular variations. Additionally, a mathematical relationship between dynamic and static rock mechanical parameters was established. Lastly, based on the characteristics of geostress, reliable foundations for optimizing hydraulic fracturing and wellbore layout were provided. This study has enriched and complemented the investigation of rock mechanical properties in tight reservoirs, offering vital parameters and theoretical support for the development of tight oil reservoirs. This bears significant importance in enhancing petroleum extraction efficiency and optimizing engineering design.

Self-initiated static-dynamic state transition behavior and triggering mechanism of strain rockburst using three-dimensional discrete element method

The accurate understanding of rockburst mechanism poses a global challenge in the field of rock mechanics. Particularly for strain rockburst, achieving self-initiated static-dynamic state transition is a crucial step in the formation of catastrophic events. However, the state transition behavior and its impact on rockburst have not received sufficient attention, and are still poorly understood. Therefore, this study specifically focuses on the state transition behavior, aiming to investigate its abrupt transition process and formation mechanism, and triggering effects on rockburst. To facilitate the study, a novel burst rock-surrounding rock combined laboratory test model is proposed and its effectiveness is validated through experiment verification. Subsequently, corresponding numerical models are established using the three-dimensional (3D) discrete element method (DEM), enabling successful simulation of static brittle failure and rockbursts of varying intensities under quasi-static displacement loading conditions. Moreover, through secondary development, comprehensive recording of the mechanical and energy information pertaining to the combined specimen system and its subsystems is achieved. As a result of numerical investigation studies, the elastic rebound dynamic behavior of the surrounding rock was discovered and identified as the key factor triggering rockburst and controlling its intensity. The impact loading on the burst rock, induced by elastic rebound, directly initiates the dynamic processes of rockburst, serving as the direct cause. Additionally, the transient work and energy convergence towards the burst rock resulting from elastic rebound are recognized as the inherent cause of rockburst. Moreover, it has been observed that a larger extent of surrounding rock leads to a stronger elastic rebound, thereby directly contributing to a more intense rockburst. The findings can provide novel theoretical insights for the exploring of rockburst mechanism and the development of monitoring and prevention techniques.

Experimental Study on Permeability Evolution of Sandstone during Triaxial Compression Damage

In order to investigate the mechanical properties and permeability characteristics of sandstone during damage evolution under hydromechanical condition, a series of coupled hydro-mechanical triaxial tests on sandstone specimens were conducted based on the Rock Top 50HT full-stress multi-field coupling triaxial test system. Variations in permeability as a function of confining pressure, seepage pressure gradient, and volumetric strain during damage evolution were obtained. The results show that: (1) When the confining pressure is constant and the specimen is gradually changed from a dry to a saturated state, the failure mode of sandstone changes from shear failure to single-slope shear failure. (2) There are four distinctive stages in the permeability evolution of sandstone: gradual decrease, steady development, gradual increase, and rapid growth. These stages correspond to the complete stress–strain curve under the respective working conditions. (3) Employing the Weibull distribution formula, this study investigates the evolution of fracture damage under varying working conditions and determines the permeability evolution relationships associated with damage variables. This exploration reveals an intrinsic link between permeability and damage variables. These findings enhance our understanding of the interplay between stress, deformation, permeability, and damage evolution in seepage-stress coupled sandstone. The results contribute valuable insights to the field of rock mechanics and hold implications for diverse geotechnical and engineering applications.

Numerical Simulation Analysis of Fracture Propagation in Rock Based on Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics.

The mechanical properties of fractured rock have always been a focal point in the rock mechanics field. Based on previous research, this paper proposes improvements to the SPH method and applies it to the study of crack propagation in fractured rocks. By conducting uniaxial compression tests and simulating crack propagation on various specimens with different crack shapes, the characteristics of crack propagation were obtained. The comparison between the simulated results in this study and existing experimental and numerical simulation results confirms the validity of the SPH method employed in this paper. The present study utilizes the proposed methodology to analyze the influence of the crack angle, width, and orientation on crack propagation. The SPH method employed in this study effectively demonstrates the expansion process of fractured rock under uniaxial compression, providing valuable insights for the engineering applications of SPH.

A Review of Hydromechanical Coupling Tests, Theoretical and Numerical Analyses in Rock Materials

The hydromechanical coupling behavior of rocks is widely present in the fields of rock mechanics and engineering studies. Analyzing and summarizing the relevant literature, the current status of experimental and coupling theory research on hydromechanical coupling is systematically described, the commonly used numerical simulation methods and their applications are briefly introduced, and the hydromechanical coupling problems in mining engineering, water conservancy, and hydropower engineering, slope engineering, tunneling engineering, and other fields are analyzed. Regarding the current status of studies on the hydromechanical coupling behavior of rocks, the test research aspect needs to further enhance the test studies on the triaxial shear permeability of rock material, and adopt a combination of macroscopic, fine, and microscopic methods to study the hydraulic coupling problems of rock materials from different scales. To couple theory, the traditional concepts are broken through, and new coupling theories and mathematical models are used to explain and solve the relevant practical problems. Meanwhile, the application of interdisciplinary approaches to solving coupling problems in the future is emphasized. In terms of numerical simulation and engineering applications, new large data algorithms are developed to improve the efficiency of simulation calculations. In addition, consideration should be given to the numerical simulation of coupling effects, the coupled rheological effects, and the coupled dynamic properties of rock masses under high-ground stress and high water pressure.

A Partitioned Rigid-Element and Interface-Element Method for Rock-Slope-Stability Analysis

The stability analysis of rock slopes has been a prominent topic in the field of rock mechanics, primarily due to the widespread occurrence of discontinuous structural planes in rock masses. Based on this complex characteristic of rock slopes, this paper proposes a novel numerical method, the Partitioned-Rigid-Element and Interface-Element (PRE-IE) method. In the PRE-IE method, the structure is modeled as several rigid bodies and discontinuous structural planes, which are, respectively, divided into partitioned rigid elements and interface elements. Taking the contact force of node pairs and the displacement of the rigid body centroid as mixed variables, according to the principle of minimum potential energy, the governing equations of PRE-IE can be established using the Lagrange multiplier method and then solved using the nonlinear contact iterative method and the incremental method. A classic case study demonstrates that using the failure of all contact node pairs as the criterion for slope failure is appropriate. This criterion is objective and avoids the potential impact of personal bias on safety factor calculations. Two numerical examples of differently shaped slopes are provided to verify the correctness and validity of the PRE-IE method. By comparing the safety factor calculated using the PRE-IE method with those obtained from other different methods, as well as comparing the computational time, it is shown that the PRE-IE method, in combination with the SRM, can accurately and efficiently analyze the stability problems of rock slopes.

A Large-Scale Application of the Stochastic Approach for Estimating the Shear Strength of Natural Rock Discontinuities

Reliable shear strength determination of large in situ discontinuities is still a challenge faced by the rock mechanics field. This is principally due to the limited availability of surface roughness and morphology information of in situ discontinuities and the unresolved management of the ‘scale effect’ phenomenon. Recently, a stochastic approach for predicting the shear strength of large-scale discontinuities was established, encompassing random field theory, a semi-analytical shear strength model, and a stochastic analysis framework. A key aspect of the new approach is the application at field scale, thereby minimising or bypassing the scale effect. The approach has been validated at laboratory scale and an initial large-scale deterministic-based validation showed promising results. However, to date, no large-scale experimental-based validation has been undertaken. This paper presents the first rigorous application of the employed semi-analytical shear strength model and the stochastic approach on a 2 m-by-2 m discontinuity surface, with comparison of prediction to experimental shear strength data. The shear strength model was found to generally produce peak and residual predictions within a ± 10% relative error range, with good agreement between predicted and observed damage areas. It was observed that, applying the stochastic approach to seed traces with gradient statistics equivalent to that of the surface, produced predictions that closely resemble the experimental results. Whereas, predicting shear strength from different seed traces results in more variability of predictions, with many falling within ± 20% of the experimental data. The predictions of residual shear strength tended to be more accurate than peak shear strength.

Influence of intermittent opening density on mechanical behavior and fracture characteristics of 3D-printed rock

To investigate the influence of intermittent opening density on the mechanical behavior and fracture characteristics of rock, sand 3D-printed specimens containing different opening numbers are prepared using quartz silica sand and furan resin adhesive as printing substrates. Uniaxial compression testing is performed on these rock-like specimens. Based on digital image correlation (DIC) technology, a methodology for identifying crack types and evaluating rock damage is proposed to quantify the mechanical mechanism of crack evolution during loading. The experimental results are verified and explained using the rock failure process analysis (RFPA) code. The results show that with increasing intermittent opening density, the stress–strain curves of the specimens are similar. Meanwhile, the increase in intermittent opening density causes the stress field distribution of the specimen to change, which in turn leads to a decrease in the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus. The types of cracks around the opening can be grouped into tensile cracks (T) and shear cracks (S), and the coalescence modes of the rock bridge between the openings can be grouped into shear coalescence (C1) and traction coalescence (C2). As the intermittent opening density increases, the coalescence type between openings changes from C1 to C2, and the overall failure pattern is converted from tensile-shear failure to tensile failure. The damage factor (Df) evolution is closely related to the intermittent opening density of the specimens. A one-way exponential decay correlation between the stress ratio and the damage factor is found. The above study is expected to deepen the understanding of the deformation and fracture mechanism of rock masses with openings and to provide a reference for the application of 3D printing technology in the rock mechanics field.

Experiences and preliminary results of geophysical methods on historical statues

In recent years, geophysical applications have been significantly grown in rock mechanics field due to their versatility and reliability as diagnostic and/or monitoring tools. Since these methodologies are mainly non-invasive, they can be used for the investigation and characterization of the internal structure of historical artworks or for the monitoring of built cultural heritage, where the non-destructive feature is an indispensable prerequisite. Commonly, the artworks material properties are unknown or strongly altered due to time and physical/chemical agents. Moreover, their nature (mineralogic and petrographic) and origin (in terms of places where the material was exploited) is uncertain and difficult to allocate. Among the available geophysical techniques, seismic methods are useful for detecting the thickness or position of weathered layers, for estimating the physical properties of different materials and for providing information about cracking and degree of fracturing. In this paper, we present some experiences and preliminary results of geophysical characterization of two Tritons statues, discovered in the garden of the Royal Palace of Venaria (Piedmont Region, Italy). The statues were originally part of the Fountain of Hercules, destroyed in the 18th century during the redevelopment works of the Palace. Ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements were performed on each portion of the statues and 3D-imaging of the apparent P-wave velocity were carried out. The performed geophysical investigations were aimed at defining the overall material quality and detecting possible sectors with low resistance properties that might interfere with the coring operations, necessary for the reassembly of the statues. Results of these surveys were also useful for setting up a 3D-FEM model for simulating the material behaviour through an analysis of the forces and loads involved.

Strength Calculation Method of Bedding Rock Based on Improved Hoek-Brown Criterion Considering the Effect of Critical Confining Pressure

Rock is a commonly used building material. Studying rock properties can reduce production time and cost, improve production efficiency and construction safety. Therefore, rock mechanics characteristics, especially strength, have always been a hot field of rock mechanics. Classical strength criteria such as the Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) criterion and Hoek-Brown (H-B) criterion are based on rock strength homogeneity and cannot reflect the characteristics of layered rock strength changing with azimuth. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the classic strength criterion to reflect layered rock anisotropy. Based on existing triaxial test results and rock anisotropic strength properties, an improved H-B criterion for rock anisotropy considering the effect of critical confining pressure is proposed in this paper, which can be used to calculate the strength of layered rocks. Taking slate as an example, the calculation results of the improved H-B criterion show that: 1. the improved H-B criterion can mostly control the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of McLamore slate test results within 30%, which is obviously better than the classical H-B criterion and has good extrapolation ability; 2. the material parameters m, n are determined by test results and inversion analysis, which avoids the arbitrariness. The proposed method can be used as a supplementary and alternative method to estimate or calculate the strength of layered rock.

A state-of-the-art review of mechanical characteristics and cracking processes of pre-cracked rocks under quasi-static compression

The mechanical characteristics and failure behavior of rocks containing flaws or discontinuities have received wide attention in the field of rock mechanics. When external loads are applied to rock materials, stress-induced cracks would initiate and propagate from the flaws, ultimately leading to the irreversible failure of rocks. To investigate the cracking behavior and the effect of flaw geometries on the mechanical properties of rock materials, a series of samples containing one, two and multiple flaws have been widely investigated in the laboratory. In this paper, the experimental results for pre-cracked rocks under quasi-static compression were systematically reviewed. The progressive failure process of intact rocks is briefly described to reveal the background for experiments on samples with flaws. Then, the nondestructive measurement techniques utilized in experiments, such as acoustic emission (AE), X-ray computed tomography (CT), and digital image correlation (DIC), are summarized. The mechanical characteristics of rocks with different flaw geometries and under different loading conditions, including the geometry of pre-existing flaws, flaw filling condition and confining pressure, are discussed. Furthermore, the cracking process is evaluated from the perspective of crack initiation, coalescence, and failure patterns.

Test Study of Seepage Characteristics of Coal Rock under Various Thermal, Hydraulic, and Mechanical Conditions

The seepage characteristics of rocks under conditions of multi-field activity have always been important in the field of rock mechanics. This study used the MTS815 multi-functional electro-hydraulic servo rock testing machine to conduct seepage tests on long-flame coal specimens under different confining pressures, water pressures, and temperatures. This paper presents and discusses the seepage characteristics of coal specimens under the action of thermal hydraulic mechanical multi-field combinations. Considering parameters such as volumetric strain, temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, and initial porosity, the relationships of each parameter with porosity were obtained. The test results revealed that the volumetric strain of coal specimens increased gradually with the increase of temperature. The dynamic viscosity of water decreased with the increase of temperature, which accelerated the movement and circulation of water molecules. The increase in temperature caused the volume of the coal specimen to expand, the pores in the coal specimen squeezed against each other, the pore volume decreased, and the size of the seepage channel slowly decreased, which inhibited the seepage process. Furthermore, permeability gradually decreased with the increase of temperature. This inhibited the occurrence of seepage, and the higher the confining pressure, the lower was the permeability. The porosity of coal specimens decreased with the increase in temperature, which had an inhibitory effect on the seepage behavior. The results of this study provide experimental and theoretical support for the safe mining of coal and rock in underground mines.

Physical model experiment research on evolution process of water inrush hazard in a deep-buried tunnel containing the filling fault

In deep tunnel engineering, water inrush disasters caused by filling faults occur frequently, which has generated wide interest in the fields of rock mechanics and fluid mechanics. The rock mass similar material was prepared with river sand as aggregate, cement as a binder, and clay as a regulator, and the similar material of the fault was composed of river sand and gravel, which laid a good foundation for the development of physical model experiment. Then, using the self-designed visualization test system of the two-dimensional model of a deep-buried tunnel filling fault water inrush, four physical models were laid by changing the fault width, fault cross distance, and fault cross angle to study the influence of different hydraulic pressures. In addition, the evolution process of water inrush disaster and the distribution characteristics of seepage weakening failure zone, hydraulic buckling failure zone, and excavation disturbance failure zone were analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, the justification classifications of tunnel risk were established to characterize the process of water-inrush of different schemes for different loading water pressure. The research results further reveal the evolution characteristics of rock fissures, connection, and formation of water inrush channels, and provide an important basis for reducing and controlling the occurrence of such tunnel water inrush disasters.

Preliminary Study on Size Effect of Fractured Rock Mass with Sand Powder 3D Printing

The size effect has a significant effect on the mechanical behavior of rock, thereby fundamentally influencing the stability of rock excavations. The main challenge associated with the experimental research on the size effect of fractured rock mass lies in the difficulty of specimen preparation to represent the influence of size and fracture on the mechanical behavior of the rock material. In order to preliminarily explore the feasibility of 3D printing technology in the field of rock mechanics, fractured rock specimens of different sizes and different fracture characteristics were produced using sand powder 3D printing technology. The uniaxial compression test was combined with the digital image correlation method (DIC) technology to study the influence of the size effect on the mechanical properties and deformation and failure of different fractured specimens. The research finds that: (1) The elastoplastic mechanical characteristics of the sand powder 3D printed specimens are similar to soft rock. Specimen size and fracture angle have significant effects on the mechanical properties of specimens. Under different fracture conditions, the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and Elasticity Modulus of sand powder 3D specimens should be decreased with the increase of the specimen size, and the size effect has different influences on the specimens with different fracture characteristics. (2) Under different fracture conditions, the crack initiation position and failure mode of specimens of various sizes are affected by the fracture inclination to varying degrees. (3) The size effect of fractured rock mass is closely related to the defect level inside the rock mass. The size effect originates from the heterogeneity inside the material. The research results verify the feasibility of applying sand powder 3D printing technology to study the size effect of fractured rock masses and provide an innovative test method for the size effect test study. Preliminary exploration of the size effect of fractured rock masses provides a powerful reference for related research in this field. The study proves the feasibility of applying sand powder 3D printing technology in similar rock mechanics tests and contributes to understanding the size effect of a fractured rock mass.

Evaluation of the Effect of Geomechanical Parameters and In Situ Stress on Tunnel Response Using Equivalent Mohr-Coulomb and Generalized Hoek-Brown Criteria

The generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) failure criterion can estimate the rock mass parameters required for rock mechanics–related analyses such as numerical modeling in geomechanics. The determination of GHB parameters has been developed in the field of rock mechanics. Due to the wide use of the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and the lack of an existing relationship for determining its parameters for a rock mass, equivalent Mohr-Coulomb parameters (EMC) can be derived from the GHB. To determine the differences in the use of these two criteria, we analyzed the behavior of a deep circular tunnel in nine stress states for three metamorphic rocks recovered from the Canadian Shield from rock masses that present a very blocky structure. We carried out 241 simulations using the finite element code RS2 to assess the effect of the geological strength index (GSI), in situ stress, and rock type on the deviation of wall displacement, the number of yielded elements, and the differential stress obtained by the GHB and EMC parameters. A combination of low in situ stress and high GSI yielded similar results when using both failure criteria.

基于<bold>CT</bold>成像和数字体图像相关法的岩石内部变形场量测方法的研究进展

<p indent="0mm">Rock mechanics plays a critical role in mining engineering, slope engineering, tunnel engineering, water conservancy, hydropower engineering, and some newly developing rock mass engineering, such as deeply buried oil and gas storage, underground nuclear waste repository, geothermal development, etc. The evolution of the internal discontinuous structure of rock under the coupling of multiple physical fields such as stress field, seepage field, and temperature field is an important research topic in the field of rock mechanics. Scholars have investigated the internal structure characteristics and their evolution process at different scales with various equipment. High-resolution microtomography (Micro CT) with micron or even nanoscale resolution has been widely used in internal structure detection, digital core modeling, and numerical modeling of rock. The digital volume correlation (DVC) method can quantitatively analyze and visualize the internal 3D deformation field of rock, and its combination with Micro CT provides a new method for transparent analysis and deduction of discontinuous structures and multi-physical fields in rocks. This paper systematically reviews the research on internal deformation measurement of rocks by using Micro CT and DVC in terms of <italic>in-situ</italic> loading device with Micro CT, the theory of DVC, the influence of micro/meso-structures in rocks, and experimental measurements. To view the internal structures of rocks under different physical fields, various <italic>in-situ</italic> loading devices combined with Micro CT were developed, e.g., uniaxial loading device, triaxial loading coupled with seepage device, gas adsorption device, and heating device. In these devices, factors such as the strength of rock, physical field, material strength of chamber, X-ray energy and penetration, real-time performance of image acquisition, and quality of reconstructed images should be comprehensively considered. By using <italic>in-situ</italic> loading devices and Micro CT, a series of volume images of rocks are obtained before and after deformation, and then DVC is adopted to calculate the three-dimensional deformation field by analyzing the correlation between these volume images. According to the registration algorithms, DVC can be categorized into local DVC (L-DVC) and global DVC (G-DVC). The basic principle and development of DVC are reviewed. Due to the limitation of the heterogeneity of rocks and the accuracy of the image acquisition equipment, natural micro structures in rocks do not have ideal speckle patterns, which affects the accuracy of DVC. It is indicated that the larger the average gray gradient and Shannon entropy and the smaller the structural variation coefficient of a rock image, the higher the accuracy of DVC. The accuracy of G-DVC is slightly better than that of L-DVC, but its calculation efficiency is lower, especially when the mesh size is small. The applications of DVC for investigating strain localization in rocks, measuring carbon dioxide-induced strain in coal, and oil shale pyrolysis are presented. Despite some impressive achievements, DVC is still faced with some core challenges, e.g., the low accuracy of the DVC algorithm and artifact error correction, the influence of the microstructures in rocks, parameter identification and numerical model verification of rocks, and deformation field measurement under the coupling of multiple physical fields. With the popularization of Micro-CT in laboratories, DVC will be further applied to measuring the three-dimensional deformation field in rocks.