Changes　in　the　velocity,　amplitude　and　attenuation　of　ultrasonic　waves　are　accompanied　by　physical　changes　during　rock　failure.　A　large　number　of　triaxial　compression　tests　were　performed　to　study　the　progressive　failure　of　shale　rock　according　to　these　physical　properties.　The　tested　shale　samples　had　different　bedding　planes　and　were　subjected　to　different　confining　pressures.　During　the　experiments,　ultrasonic　wave　testing　was　used　to　monitor　the　progressive　failure　process　and　to　evaluate　different　characteristic　points.　Variations　were　interpreted　by　analyzing　the　ultrasonic　velocity　and　amplitude.　Failure　points　cause　velocity　drops　that　are　greater　in　the　P　than　in　the　S　waves.　The　percentage　wave　amplitude　decrease　at　dilatancy　point　was　determined　and　that　of　the　P　wave　is　double　that　of　the　S　wave,　which　indicates　that　the　P　wave　is　more　sensitive.　The　shale　sample　attenuation　was　analyzed,　and　the　results　show　that　samples　with　high　density　and　high　homogeneity　tend　to　have　a　higher　attenuation　coefficient.