The　force　and　deformation　of　building　structures　subjected　to　vehicular　impact　can　be　accurately　simulated　by　detailed　numerical　models　which　increase　the　computational　cost　significantly.　However,　it　is　the　structure　rather　than　the　vehicle　that　should　be　focused　on　in　the　design　of　building　structures　against　the　impact　loading.　Therefore,　to　improve　the　computational　efficiency　without　losing　the　accuracy　of　the　numerical　analysis,　a　simplified　model　of　vehicles　impacting　columns　in　the　oblique　direction　(45°)　is　proposed　based　on　the　energy　conservation　principle　and　the　influence　of　the　impact　direction　on　the　deformation　and　damage　of　the　columns　is　studied.　The　analysis　results　show　that　the　impact　force,　impulse,　deformation　and　strain　of　columns　can　be　captured　accurately　by　the　simplified　vehicle　model.　Compared　with　the　front　impact　(90°),　the　energy　dissipation　of　the　vehicle　is　smaller　in　the　oblique　impact　(45°),　which　leads　to　larger　deformation　and　more　serious　damage　of　the　columns.　©　2018,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.