Abstract: The Distinct Element Method(DEM) is widly used in many disciplines and engineering domain. The DEM is developed and improved based on their theories and research realm. So it is possible that the development directions are different. They can use for reference each other. The basic issue of particle fracture is introduced in this paper. It is about particle fracture criterion, the relation between particle fracture and fracture kinetics, the development of macroscopic particle and block impact damage and fracture. These research achievements can benefit to and be reference for rock particle fracture investigation. At the same time, the development abstraction of DEM is introduced in the paper. The basic theory of DEM is also simply introduced as an example of PFC.In the end of paper, the drawbacks about this are specified. The situation of DEM study and application in China is simply commented in engineering geology and geotechnical engineering.