The acoustic emission tests in rockburst process of granite under true-triaxial loading conditions were conducted by using a true-triaxial rockburst test system. It reveals the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of acoustic emission during rockburst process. At the early stage of rockburst

the count-hits ratio is relatively small

and the dominant frequency is mostly concentrated in low frequency bands. The dominant band

whose energy proportion is the maximum based on wavelet analysis

is characterized as low frequency less than 125 kHz. At this stage

the scattered AE events turn to concentrate

and new AE events migrate gradually from free face to interior of rock specimens. Immediately before rockburst

the count-hits ratio shows a continuous sharp increase

AE signals with high frequency

intermediate frequency and low frequency begin to teem

and the dominant band transfers from discrete state to continuous one. Meanwhile

the proportion of dominant band of 250-500 kHz increases significantly. Simultaneously

away from the free face the nucleation zone of AE events forms

while near the free face the number of AE events increases. During the process of rockburst

the acoustic emission is characterized as low frequency and high amplitude

and it has the dominant band of 62.5-125 kHz. The AE events are active near the free face and the nucleation zone of AE events can be clearly observed in interior of rock specimens

which indicates that the spalling or slabbing occurs near the free face and the macro shear failure occurs away from the free face.