In order to identify the deformation and failure mechanism of rock mass with high strain energy under fast unloading condition

Jinping marble rockburst tests are designed

and the macroscopic failure characteristics and acoustic emission(AE) processes are studied. Firstly

based on previous characteristics of true triaxial rockburst tests

true triaxial rockburst tests with entire process and without entire process are done

and a detailed process and AE characteristics are analyzed. Secondly

progressive failure is explained by comparing macroscopic failure characteristics of true triaxial rockburst tests with entire process with that of true triaxial rockburst tests without entire process. Conclusions are drawn as follows: in marble rockburst test

the macroscopic failure of rock specimen varies from outside to inside; tensile cracks appear earlier than shear cracks

and isolated rock fragment

which is confined by tensile cracks (or free face) and lapping shear cracks

peels off with or without a initial speed; the phenomenon that rock powder only exists on the shear crack planes demonstrates that a considerable strain energy dissipates

accompanying expansion of shear cracks; compared with other classification and mechanism of rockburst

a progressive failure view of rockburst in this article explains rockburst mechanism reasonably.