Abstract: As a subtopic of stress and seepage coupling research of fractured rock mass, the hydraulic fracturing research was still in its infancy. The theory study was not being perfect. Nowadays, More and more rock engineering were expanded to underground. The underground structures were usually bearing on high hydro-pressure. The requirement of engineering construction was an impulse to drive the theory and technique research of hydraulic fracturing in rock mass. Hydraulic fracturing, as a technique, was used in petroleum industry to increase output of oil wells initially. In the sequel, it was introduced to stress measurement. Along with the construction of hydro-electricity projects, underground nuclear waste deposited, ground thermal energy exploitation, underground mining and so on, underground structures was faced on wicked hydro-geological conditions, such as high water pressure and deep burying. The effect of hydraulic fracture was being paid more and more intention by engineering rock stability researchers in recent years. A detailed review about rock hydraulic fracture research was done in this paper. Some theories, methods, results and hot points of recent studying were reviewed and being commanded briefly. Finally, some key problems were pointed out which need to be studied emphatically.

Key words: fractured rock mass, hydraulic fracturing, seepage stress coupling, fracture flow, review