The　mechanical　response　and　energy　utilization　efficiency　of　rocks　with　different　lithologies　during　percussion　drilling　are　highly　significant　for　optimizing　engineering　and　tool　parameters　improving　the　efficiency　of　percussion　drilling.　In　this　study,　dynamics　tests　were　conducted　on　rocks　of　different　lithologies,　considering　the　impact　compression　and　tensile　process　versus　the　strain　rate　effect　of　the　rock.　A　high-speed　camera　was　used　to　observe　the　generation　and　development　of　cracks　during　the　transient　fracture　of　the　rock　and　analyze　the　time-varying　effect　of　strain　during　fracture.　A　model　of　fracture　energy　changing　with　time　was　established,　and　the　relationship　between　the　strain　rate　and　dynamic　strength,　failure　time,　and　fracture　energy　was　developed　and　verified.　The　results　of　this　study　revealed　that,　the　higher　the　impact　velocity　and　the　harder　the　rock,　the　shorter　the　time　required　for　the　rock　to　break.　This　means　that　under　the　same　impact　conditions,　it　takes　longer　to　break　a　soft　rock.　Moreover,　the　fracture　energy　conversion　rate　of　a　rock　is　greatly　affected　by　the　impact　velocity,　and　the　fracture　energy　of　the　rock　increases　as　the　strain　rate　increases.　There　was　an　optimal　impact　velocity　for　each　type　of　rock　and　the　fracture　energy　conversion　rate　was　the　highest　at　that　velocity.　When　the　strain　rate　was　50–150　s−1,　the　specimen　strength　and　fracture　energy　showed　similar　trends:　strength　and　fracture　energy　of　granite　were　the　highest,　followed　by　that　of　tuff　and　sandstone.　The　specimen　failure　time　displayed　an　opposite　trend:　sandstone　had　the　longest　failure　time,　followed　by　tuff　and　granite.　The　findings　could　form　the　basis　for　the　further　analysis　of　dynamic　failure　characteristics　to　improve　the　energy　utilization　rate　and　rock-breaking　efficiency　of　different　lithology　rocks.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.