This book focus on the research results in macro and micro scratch mechanical tests and numerical simulations of shale, in order to provide a reference for understanding and recognizing the macroscopic mechanical properties of shale. Shale is widely distributed in the earth's strata and has received extensive attention in the fields of mineral resource extraction (e.g., shale oil and gas extraction) and underground space resource utilization (e.g., soft-rock tunnel support, CO2 geologic sequestration, radioactive nuclear waste, etc.). The study of the physical and mechanical properties of shale is of great significance to the safe mining and efficient utilization of minerals and underground space.

However, due to the complexity of shale's own structure and the limitation of testing technology, the past mostly focuses on small-size samples full load destructive measurements, which is difficult to respond to the influence of complex structure on mechanical properties. In recent years, with the development of non-destructive and micro-destructive scratch test technology, it has become possible to study the characteristics of spatial continuity change of mechanical properties of shale.