Abstract: In order to predict the damage, failure and even collapse of the reinforced concrete (RC) structures subjected to severe dynamic loads precisely and efficiently, a user defined 3D fiber Timoshenko beam element model considering large deformation and large strain was established, which was embedded into the commercial software ABAQUS combining with the rate-dependent constitutive model of steel and concrete. With the help of ABAQUS, the efficient finite element method adopting the proposed rate-dependent 3D fiber Timoshenko beam element was developed to investigate the damage mechanism and progressive collapse of RC structures under severe dynamic loads. The analytical results indicated that the developed user defined 3D fiber Timoshenko beam element model could simulate the deformation, and failure modes of flexure, flexure-shear, direct shear of RC members, and even progressive collapse of RC structures under dynamic loads properly. The user defined rate-dependent 3D fiber Timoshenko beam element model embedded into ABAQUS provides a precise and efficient method to analyze the nonlinear dynamic responses of RC structures.