The propagation effect and failure characteristics of stress wave on limestone were studied by one-stage light-gas gun induced-plate impact experiment technology.The results showed that there were obvious dispersion effect and attenuation character of stress wave propagating in rock,and by sectioning and observation,it was found that there were three different failure zones in impacted rock,which were failure zone in the head,tension-compression failure zone in the middle and fracture failure zone in the tail.On this basis,numerical simulation was made on the impact-failure process of the rock,and the result of simulation was in accordance with the one of the test.