In recent decades, controlled laboratory experiments of rock fracture & friction, and monitoring and analyses of accompanying acoustic emissions (AE), and application of fractals to investigate the failure zone development and its growth in rock under simulated field conditions have become possible. This development has contributed more to the fracture mechanics research of rock as well as for better planning and execution of field experiments aimed at structural health monitoring, and forewarning and control of rock bursts in deep mines etc. Furthermore, the utilization of simpler and...