Abstract：The recent development in some aspects on the research of rock rheology and its engineering applications are discussed；the main contents are listed as follows：a comprehensive introduction of the rock engineering rheology problems，laboratory as well as in-situ study on the soft rock and rock mass of rich growth with joints and fissures，identification of rheological models and their parameters estimation，applications of rheological mechanics to the convergence-confinement method and its applications to the design optimization of tunnel structures，nonlinear rheological behavior of tunnel surrounding rocks in high earth stress region and its mechanical effect of tunnel lining-support，study on rock rheological damage and fracture mechanics. Besides，this paper gives a brief discussion on the rheology problem in soil mechanics and soil engineering. Finally，several understandings on the research work are presented in prospect of the rheological mechanics in geotechnical engineering in the future.
