Abstract：In order to study the deformation and damage character under load and to further reveal the evolutionary process and the time effect mechanism of coal-rock，damage evolution and acoustic emission(AE) character of coal-rock under uniaxial compression are studied using MTS815 servo-controlled rock mechanical test system and 8CHS PCI–2 AE system. AE character of coal-rock under uniaxial compression is analyzed. A new damage variable，which is defined based on normalized cumulative ring-down count of AE，is proposed；and the damage model of coal-rock under uniaxial compression is established. Damage evolution curve and equation of coal-rock are obtained. The results show that AE information can reflect internal damage of coal-rock and is closely related with primary crack compression and evolutionary course of new crack generation，growth，and connectivity. AE can describe the deformation and damage evolution character of coal-rock. The new damage model of coal-rock under uniaxial compression is reasonable；the deformation and damage evolution process can be divided into three phases including the stage of initial damage，the stage of damage stable evolution and development，and the stage of damage accelerating development. The development of coal-rock deformation and damage can be regarded to be gradual，which is the whole process from deformation and damage initiation and evolution to the appearance of macroscopic cracks，from macroscopic propagation to damage.
