Development of geomechanics of highly compressed rocks and rock masses in Russia

A brief overview of the basic principles of geomechanics of highly compressed rocks and masses is presented. The historical path of formation of this new scientific branch of the classical geomechanics is shown. The scales and structural levels of the geomedium failure are identified. The issues of adequate mathematical models at various geomedium structural levels developing, as well as methods for determining the parameters of these models are considered. The object, subject, methods and principles of geomechanics of highly compressed rocks and masses are formulated as a complex discipline at the intersection of classical geomechanics and mesomechanics.