In　this　study,　the　micro-failure　process　and　failure　mechanism　of　a　typical　brittle　rock　under　uniaxial　compression　are　investigated　via　continuous　real-time　measurement　of　wave　velocities.　The　experimental　results　indicate　that　the　evolutions　of　wave　velocities　became　progressively　anisotropic　under　uniaxial　loading　due　to　the　direction-dependent　development　of　micro-damage.　A　wave　velocity　model　considering　the　inner　anisotropic　crack　evolution　is　proposed　to　accurately　describe　the　variations　of　wave　velocities　during　uniaxial　compression　testing.　Based　on　which,　the　effective　elastic　parameters　are　inferred　by　a　transverse　isotropic　constitutive　model,　and　the　evolutions　of　the　crack　density　are　inversed　using　a　self-consistent　damage　model.　It　is　found　that　the　propagation　of　axial　cracks　dominates　the　failure　process　of　brittle　rock　under　uniaxial　loading　and　oblique　shear　cracks　develop　with　the　appearance　of　macrocrack.　©　2021,　Central　South　University　Press　and　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.