This classic book, unavailable for many years, is now back by popular demand. Extensively revised for this fourth edition, it now contains substantially expanded chapters on poroelasticity, wave propagation, and subsurface stresses, as well as entirely new chapters on rock fractures and micromechanical models of rock behaviour. Beginning with a detailed discussion of fundamental concepts such as stress and strain, this classic text offers a thorough introduction to the subject of rock mechanics, before expertly delving into a fundamental, self-contained discussion of specific topics. Unmatched in the breadth of its treatment, the new edition of this highly praised text is an invaluable resource for all geologists, geophysicists, and geotechnical engineers working in the field today. · Rock as a Material. · Analysis of Stress and Strain. · Friction on Rock Surfaces. · Deformation and Failure of Rock. · Linear Elasticity. · Laboratory Testing of Rocks. · Poroelasticity and Thermoelasticity. · Stresses around Cavities and Excavations. · Inelastic Behavior. · Micromechanical Models. · Wave Propagation in Rocks. · Hydromechanical Behavior of Fractures. · State of Stress Underground. · Geological Applications.