Abstract：The stress wave propagation and energy dissipation in jointed rocks are investigated by split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB) technique and fractal theory. The influence of the irregular geometrical configuration of the joint surface on the wave propagation，inelastic deformation and energy dissipation has been analyzed. It is shown that the irregularity of the joint surface apparently affects the stress wave transmission. With the same incident pulses，the amplitude of stress wave was attenuated seriously when it traveled through the rough fractal joint compared with the smooth plane joint. The deformation of a rough fractal joint was found to be larger than that of a smooth plane joint. The ratio of energy dissipation WJ/WI increases nonlinearly with increment of fractal dimension D of the jointed surface. Nevertheless，the energy dissipation ratio WJ/WI of the roughly jointed rocks seems to be the same as that of the smoothly jointed rocks if the fractal dimension of the joint surface is less than the critical value. An empirical model for energy dissipation ratio to the fractal dimension of joint surface has been formulated.
