In order to investigate the toughening characteristic by microcrack formation in ceramic composites, $Al_2$O$_3$/(0~20)vol% YAG composites containing equiaxed second grains were fabricated using$ Al_2$$O_3$ during hot-pressing. AE(acoustic emission) measurements have been coupled with fracture toughness experiments of SENB method, to evaluate the microcrack formation and the improvement in fracture toughness of ceramic composites. Formation of microcrack was detected by Ae. The generation of AE events increased with increasing of load when load was applied at specimen. The AE events are generated mainly around at maximum load. Specially, the detected AE evetns of composites are many as compared with monolithic $Al_2$$O_3$. Fracture toughness of composites was improved than that of monolithic alumina. $Al_2$O$_3$/YAG composites exhibit main toughening effects by microcracking, results from mutual coalesence of microcracks being generated under applied load. However, there are few toughening mechanism like microcracking in monolithic alumina.