岩体质量分级是工程人员认识岩体的重要途径，工程岩体分级方法的发展在很大程度上反映了岩体工程实践的能力和水平。厘清工程岩体分级方法的发展现状及趋势，对了解和把握岩体工程实践的现状和方向有重要意义。首先对目前常用或产生深远影响的岩体分级方法进行介绍，指出工程岩体分级方法的发展具有如下特点：①所考虑的核心因素由岩块强度过渡到岩体结构和结构面特征；②由仅考虑岩体自身特征过渡到综合考虑岩体所处环境条件；③由定性分级过渡到定量与定性相结合的综合分级。现有分级方法的不足主要体现在：①针对深部工程岩体或复杂条件岩体，现有分级方法适用性不够；②有必要扩充岩体分级方法的输出信息，使之除包含岩体稳定特征外，还包含岩体参数及处置措施；③国内工程岩体分级较为凌乱，需要进一步统一和细化。针对以上不足，给出了具体的改进建议。

Rock mass classification is an important means for engineers to identify the properties of engineering rock mass. The development of the classification methods somewhat reflects the status quo of rock engineering. The commonly used classification methods were introduced so as to elaborate on the characteristics of classification method development as follows: 1. the core factor changed from the strength of rock block to the rock mass structure and the properties of structural plane; 2. apart from the properties of rock block itself, the surrounding conditions of the rock were also covered in nowadays classification methods; 3. instead of qualitative classification, the integration of qualitative classification and quantitative classification were used in the newly developed methods. It ' s also summarized that the classification methods exhibit the following developing trends: firstly, classification methods should be developed to meet the requirements of rock engineering in deep or complex conditions. Secondly, the output information should not only include rock stability states, but also parameters and treating methods. Thirdly, domestic classification systems are disordered and inefficient, and therefore needs to be unified and subdivided. Suggestions are also given to improve the classification systems.