The　tensile　deformation　characteristics　and　the　damage　evolution　of　aluminum　alloy　sheets　were　investigated　with　acoustic　emission　(AE)　technology,　while　microstructural　characterization　of　material　damage　and　surface　strain　were　respectively　measured　with　a　morphological　assessment　method　and　digital　image　correlation　technique.　The　Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman　mesoscopic　damage　model　was　incorporated　in　a　finite　element　model　to　predict　the　material＇s　deformation　and　failure　behavior.　Results　showed　that　there　was　a　strong　correlation　between　AE　activity　and　microstructural　damage　evolution.　It　is　shown　that　AE　detection　is　a　promising　method　that　can　be　used　for　the　quantification　of　microscale　damage　and　its　evolution　in　metallic　materials.