The impact toughness(A_k) and the fracture toughness(K_ⅠC) are main parameters to characterize the fracture toughness of the engineering materials. In order to solve the the limits of A_k and K_ⅠC in characterization of explosive fracture toughness, the tensile fracture energy W_t and the compress fracture energy W_c based on the stress-strain curve were put forward. The similarity between the physical meanings of the fracture energy parameters (W_t, W_c)and the impact toughness A_k, was found via analyzing the test principle although they could not be directly measured. W_t, W_c and K_ⅠC for different explosives HMX-P1, HMX-P2, TATB-P3 at room temperature were studied by experiments as well as for HMX-P2 at 20, 35, 45 ℃ and 60 ℃. Results show that the W_t, W_c and K_ⅠC of explosives have the same change trend whether for different type explosives or at different temperatures, which indicates they can be used to characterize the toughness of explosive materials.