A　test　was　conducted　to　investigate　the　dynamic　response　characteristics　and　damage　modes　of　pile　wharves　subjected　to　underwater　explosions.　To　simulate　the　explosion　process,　a　fluid-solid　coupling　finite　element　model　of　the　pile　wharf　was　constructed.　The　structural　damage　process,　response　characteristics,　and　failure　modes　of　the　pile　wharf　were　analyzed　based　on　the　experimental　and　numerical　simulation　results.　The　results　showed　that　the　main　damaged　components　of　the　pile　wharf　were　the　piles,　with　damage　modes　of　cracks,　spalling,　and　brittle　shear.　The　probability　of　moderate　or　more　significant　damage　to　the　inclined　piles　was　25%　higher　than　that　of　the　vertical　piles.　The　inclined　piles　with　low　deformation　ability　were　more　prone　to　local　concrete　brittle　failure,　significantly　increasing　the　possibility　of　instability　and　failure　of　the　pile　wharf　structure.　The　acceleration　response　spectrum　indicated　that　although　the　structure　of　the　pile　wharf　was　severely　damaged,　the　personnel　on　its　surface　slab　still　had　a　high　probability　of　survival.　The　study　indicates　that　replacing　inclined　piles　with　alternative　optimized　structures　benefits　the　blast　resistance　of　pile　wharves.　©　2023