Abstract: A large number of permeability tests of different brittle rocks were conducted using an electro-hydraulic servo-controlled MTS 815.02 testing machine to investigate the permeability evolution characteristics of brittle rock in compressive deformation and failure process corresponding to the complete stress-strain path. Laboratory tests show that the permeability of brittle rock relates closely to the state of stress in rock and the permeability of brittle rock in post-peak stress-strain region is much higher than that in pre-peak stress-strain region. Moreover, the sharp increase or sudden jump of permeability frequently occurs in the post-peak stress-strain region due to the catastrophic changes of microstructure of rock in compression. Based on the experimental results of permeability evolution tests for different brittle rocks, the piecewise stress-permeability fitting curves for brittle rocks in compression were obtained to offer reliable experimental evidence for the numerical model of coupled stress-permeability regarding the permeability evolution of brittle rock in compressive failure.