To　study　the　dynamic　response　of　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　columns　subjected　to　the　impact　loading,　a　numerical　model　is　established　for　the　impact　analysis　of　RC　structural　members　based　on　the　LS-DYNA　finite　element　code.　The　typical　drop　hammer　tests　on　RC　beams　are　simulated　so　as　to　confirm　that　the　impact　loading　and　structural　deformation　can　be　accurately　captured　via　the　developed　model.　Based　on　the　model,　the　effect　of　various　factors　on　the　impact　load　and　the　structural　deformation　of　the　RC　columns　is　investigated.　The　factors　are　the　velocity,　the　mass　and　the　shape　of　the　impactor,　the　longitudinal　and　transverse　reinforcement　ratios　of　the　columns,　the　strength　of　concrete　and　the　strain　rate　of　material.　Three　typical　damage　modes　of　the　RC　columns　subjected　to　impact　loading　are　found　from　the　numerical　analysis,　including　a　local　damage　mode,　a　global　bending　failure　mode　and　a　local　shear　failure　mode.　The　factors　which　influence　the　impact　loading　can　be　classified　into　three　types,　i.e.,　the　impactor-related　factor,　the　column-stiffness-related　factor　and　the　column-strength-related　factor.　The　effects　of　these　factors　on　the　peak　load,　the　average　load　and　the　duration　of　the　impact　action　are　discussed　for　the　purpose　of　providing　a　valuable　reference　to　establish　the　simplified　impact　loading　model　for　the　impact-induced　collapse　analysis　of　building　structures.　©,　2015,　Tsinghua　University.　All　right　reserved.