Abstract: The development and basic theory of distinct element method(DEM) were introduced in brief. The details of application on simulating the mechanical dynamic behavior of soil by DEM in the research field of terramechanics were presented. The feasibility of the application of DEM to describe soil dynamic property was analyzed. The special priority of describing soil dynamic behavior using the whole theory of distinct elements in applying DEM to the discontinuous multiphase multiple system such as soil was pointed out. The trends of the development of DEM in the soil dynamic property and the key problems that may arise from its use in the near future were put forward.