Abstract: Acoustoelasticity ofsolids is very important in the non-destructive measurement ofstress states of solids, and Professor Pao from Connell Universityhad summarized the progress of acoustoelasticity of solids before1984. In order to advance the investigation of acoustoelasticity,this paper reviews systematically the last twenty-years progressin the theory and measurement technology of acoustoelasicity andits application to the non-destructive stress evaluation in thefields of material science and rock engineering.