Abstract: To improve the impact resistance of structural columns, two series of Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns and RC columns strengthened with steel jackets under different axial compression ratios were designed and experimentally studied. The experiments were performed by using the DHR-9401 drop hammer test machine. The impact resistances of RC columns and RC columns strengthened with steel jackets were compared. The force sensors, high-speed camera and strain gages were used to record data such as the time history curves of impact loads, axial forces, mid-span displacement and strain in specific locations. Three nonlinear dynamic finite element software packages (i.e., MSC.Marc, ABAQUS and ANSYS/LS-DYNA) were adopted to simulate the dynamic behavior of RC columns and RC columns strengthened with steel jackets. Results show that the impact resistances of the RC columns strengthened with steel jackets are significantly stronger than those of the RC columns. Therefore, RC columns strengthened with steel jackets are a feasible impact strengthening measure. The simulated results of ABAQUS were the best agreeing with experiment results, followed by MSC.Marc and ANSYS/LS-DYNA. ANSYS/LS-DYNA was found to well simulate the entire impact failure process of RC columns, which was difficult to achieve by the other two software packages. The outcomes can assist in providing impact resistance measures for the strengthening design of large railway stations subjected to derailed trains, and offering reference for selecting suitable finite element software package for impact resistance analysis.