<p>This study systematically investigates the rapid unloading effect of rockbursts, combining macro-mechanical response analysis with meso-scale damage mechanisms. The study reveals the failure characteristics of rock under rapid unloading conditions and examines their dependence on burial depth. From a macro-mechanical perspective, the rapid unloading process is characterized by distinct nonlinear deformation, manifested by a stress plateau in the stress–strain curve and a sharp increase in acoustic emission energy. Furthermore, the damage evolution in granite under rapid unloading shows significant dependence on burial depth. Across all burial depths rapid unloading induces volumetric expansion along the free surface due to the Poisson effect.</p><p>This study further elucidates the underlying mechanisms governing granite failure under different stress regimes: (i) in low-stress environments, damage is primarily driven by volumetric expansion, whereas (ii) under high-stress conditions, tensile crack initiation and propagation dominate the failure process. Within the framework of quasi-dynamic mechanical behavior, two key mechanical effects of rapid unloading are identified: (i) a transient tensile effect in the unloading direction and (ii) a compressive effect in the confining pressure direction. Additionally, a novel theoretical model is proposed to describe the rapid unloading process, with the unloading rate explicitly incorporated as a critical parameter, offering an improved approach for predicting damage evolution in rock masses during excavation.</p>