In　this　paper,　in　order　to　expand　the　application　of　fractal　theory,　the　history,　concepts,　principles　of　fractal　theory　are　reviewed　firstly;　then　a　summary　and　overview　are　given　to　the　application　of　fractal　theory　in　civil　engineering　materials,　geotechnical　engineering,　earthquake　engineering　and　structural　damage　detection　throughout　the　world;　and　the　study　on　fractal　theory　integrating　with　neural　network　and　data　fusion　applied　to　damage　identification　is　introduced.　The　prospect　and　trend　are　forecasted　finally.　The　study　shows　that　the　application　of　fractal　theory　in　civil　engineering,　especially　the　fractal　theory　integrating　with　other　techniques　applied　to　damage　detection　for　a　concrete-filled　steel　tubular　arch　bridge,　is　feasible　and　efficient.