Based on pressure arch definition, pressure arch can guarantee the stability of rock mass. While give full play to arch effect of pressure arch, can improve the economics and safety of tunnel project, Therefore, the pressure arch has been a hot and difficult study. This paper has finished existing study results collection, summary and comprehensive analysis, gets results that: with the development of the diversity of the test methods and modern technology, pressure arch and related concept study get a certain achievements, but the judgment standard, forming condition is not stated clearly, and the lack of unified standard; Self-stability of pressure arch and dynamic pressure arch has a general rule or not, under certain conditions to set up? Yet to be confirmed. Numerical analysis of pressure arch study methods and physical model tests have its advantages and disadvantages. So, both need each other "cooperation", complement and validation; Currently, test equipments, materials and loading methods are still short of clean and efficient, concise adaptive, intelligence environmental protection, still need further study.