In　this　study,　we　attempted　to　investigate　the　spatial　gradient　distributions　of　thermal　shock-induced　damage　to　granite　with　respect　to　associated　deterioration　mechanisms.　First,　thermal　shock　experiments　were　conducted　on　granite　specimens　by　slowly　preheating　the　specimens　to　high　temperatures,　followed　by　rapid　cooling　in　tap　water.　Then,　the　spatial　gradient　distributions　of　thermal　shock-induced　damage　were　investigated　by　computed　tomography　(CT)　and　image　analysis　techniques.　Finally,　the　influence　of　the　preheating　temperature　on　the　spatial　gradients　of　the　damage　was　discussed.　The　results　show　that　the　thermal　shock　induced　by　rapid　cooling　can　cause　more　damage　to　granite　than　that　induced　by　slow　cooling.　The　thermal　shock　induced　by　rapid　cooling　can　cause　spatial　gradient　distributions　of　the　damage　to　granite.　The　damage　near　the　specimen　surface　was　at　a　maximum,　while　the　damage　inside　the　specimen　was　at　a　minimum.　In　addition,　the　preheating　temperature　can　significantly　influence　the　spatial　gradient　distributions　of　the　thermal　shock-induced　damage.　The　spatial　gradient　distribution　of　damage　increased　as　the　preheating　temperature　increased　and　then　decreased　significantly　over　600　degrees　C.　When　the　preheating　temperature　was　sufficiently　high　(e.g.　800　degrees　C),　the　gradient　can　be　ignored.　(C)　2020　Institute　of　Rock　and　Soil　Mechanics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Production　and　hosting　by　Elsevier　B.V.