Based on three-point bending test, the damage characteristics of notched beams of super absorbent polymer (SAP) concrete were researched at various loading rates. The fracture damage process was monitored by employing the acoustic emission (AE) technique. Variation of peak energy and cumulative energy were calculated by using the load-crack mouth opening displacement (P-CMOD) curves, and the damage mode of AE signals released during the damage of notched beams was analyzed by RA-AF correlation analysis. The results indicates that the strength of SAP concrete increases and the proportion of tensile-type fractures significantly decreases with the increase of loading rate. With the increase of SAP content, the strength of SAP concrete decreases at an equivalent loading rate, and the proportion of tensile-type cracks increases first and then decreases. Appropriate SAP can increase the proportion of tensile-type cracks. The research results can provide reference for the practical application of SAP concrete in engineering.