###### Abstract  
For jointed rock mass with anisotropy and discontinuity, the structure of the surrounding rock is constantly developing and changing during tunnel excavation. It is difficult to reasonably predict localized deformation of jointed rock mass by using the existing rock mechanics theory. In this paper, the failure characteristic of pre-hold jointed rock mass with three joint angles is experimentally investigated by adopting the digital image correlation and acoustic emission methods. To avoid the influence of measurement error on Digital Image Correlation (DIC) from discontinuous deformation, parametric studies and an optimized algorithm are also included in DIC tests. Results indicate that the perpendicular-jointed condition (0\({}^{\circ}\) joints) is the most dangerous situation because of its comparatively lower strength and brittle failure mode with a shift energy release. For rocks with different jointed angles, localized deformation emerges after the material enters the plasticity. Significant localization occurs after the failure with cracks surrounding the center hole and pre-existing joints. materials because natural rock samples containing irregular defects or joints are difficult to make. [PERSON] et al. (2015) studied the fracture evolution process around holes and defects under a pressure stress field through the gypsum simulated material test. It is shown that the evolution process includes the initiation of Primary tensile, Normal shear, Secondary tensile and Inclined shear cracks. [PERSON] (2016) observed that the cracks around the hole wall were divided into three categories: initial cracks, which formed in the tensile stress concentration area around the hole with the increase of applied load; A far-field crack, a crack that forms far away around a hole; Shear crack, a crack formed in the area of compressive stress concentration around the hole. [PERSON] et al. (2017) studied the mechanical characteristics and fracture mechanism of jointed rock mass containing holes and summarized the crack coalescence modes between joints and between holes and joints. [PERSON] et al. (2018) analyzed the stress-strain, contact force chain, vertical stress field and crack evolution characteristics of limestone samples with circular holes and persistent joints of different angles. [PERSON] et al. (2019) studied the effects of weak inclusions on the fracture and fractal behavior of models containing joint sets and holes and proposed a cantilevering beam model to explain the initiation mechanism of tensile cracks around cavity filling. [PERSON] et al. (2020) studied the strain field and micro-fracture events of the jointed sample in real time, and the test results show that the joint inclination has a significant effect on the strength and failure mode of the sample. The above studies show that the failure mode and mechanical behavior depend on the geometry of the joints and the direction of the principal stress. The development of the strain field of the sample is very important to reveal the fracture behavior mechanism of the sample under compression, which is difficult to obtain by the traditional monitoring method. Digital image correlation (DIC) is an optical non-contact deformation measurement technique that can be used to monitor the full-field strain evolution of the sample surface ([PERSON] et al., 2018; [PERSON] et al., 2019). It has many advantages over traditional contact measurement techniques such as displacement extension meters, photoelastic coatings, and strain meters, such as DIC can capture the expansion of secondary cracks, which is difficult to observe with traditional methods because the secondary cracks remain closed after initiation. Therefore, DIC has been widely used in the fields of material testing, fracture mechanics investigation and engineering monitoring ([PERSON] et al., 2018; [PERSON] et al., 2019). In rock mass engineering, DIC technology can be used to analyze the displacement and strain of rock mass and predict the stability of rock mass.