This paper presents experimental results and computational simulations of spherical wave propagation in Danby marble. The experiment consisted of a 2‐cm‐diameter explosive charge detonated in the center of a cylindrical rock sample. Radial particle velocity histories were recorded at several concentric locations in the sample. An extensively damaged region near the charge cavity and two networks of cracks were evident in the specimen after the test. The first network consists of radial cracks emanating form the cavity and extending about halfway through the specimen. The second network consists of circumferential cracks occurring in a relatively narrow band that extends from the outer boundary of the radially cracked region toward the free surface. The experiment was simulated using the GEODYN code and a multi‐directional damage model. The model is developed within the framework of a properly invariant nonlinear thermomechanical theory with damage represented by a second order tensor that admits load‐induced anisotropy such as was observed in the experiment. © 2004 American Institute of Physics