Uniaxial　compression　tests　were　carried　out　for　3D　printed　samples　having　various　types　of　kinked　fissures　by　using　the　rock　mechanics　servo-controlled　testing　system.　Photo-elastic　technique　is　adopted　to　characterize　and　visualize　the　stress　distribution　and　evolution　of　3D　printed　models　subjected　to　vertical　compression.　The　stress　field　in　the　loading　process　can　clearly　be　captured　via　a　high-speed　camera.　The　results　showed　that　fringes　around　the　kinked　fissure　tips　formed　a　central　symmetrical　interference　fringe　pattern,　and　failure　firstly　occurred　at　interference　fringe　of　highest　order.　Two　failure　types　i.e.　tip-cracking　and　non-tip-cracking　are　categorized　on　the　basis　of　crack　propagation　pattern　of　3D　printed　samples.　Tensile　crack　propagation　of　wing　cracks　is　the　main　form　of　failure　of　the　antisymmetric　kinked　fissures,　but　the　inclination　of　the　branch　fissures　also　played　a　key　role　on　the　location　of　initial　fracture.　The　finite　element　method　was　applied　to　numerically　simulate　the　process　of　crack　propagation.　The　isochromatic　fringe　patterns　are　in　good　agreement　with　the　experimental　investigation.　The　current　work　gives　an　insight　for　implication　of　advanced　technique　to　quantify　and　visualize　the　distribution　of　stress　field,　and　provides　further　understanding　of　kinked　fissure　behavior　at　failure.