In　this　study,　a　novel　multi-cell　steel–concrete–steel　(MCSCS)　sandwich　panel　was　proposed　for　enhancing　impact　resistance　of　the　traditional　steel–concrete–steel​　(SCS)　sandwich　panel.　The　MCSCS　sandwich　panel　employed　stiffeners　and　headed　studs　to　improve　the　bonding　behavior　between　faceplates　and　concrete　core　as　well　as　enhance　its　composite　action　and　impact　resistance.　Impact　tests　were　conducted　on　seven　MCSCS　panels　via　employing　a　drop　weight　loading　system,　and　the　influences　of　impact　direction,　spacing　of　headed　stud　and　steel　plate　thickness　on　responses　of　MCSCS　panels　were　investigated.　Furthermore,　the　Finite　Element　(FE)　model　of　the　MCSCS　panel　was　established,　and　the　FE　predictions　were　shown　to　be　reasonable　as　compared　to　test　results.　Two　types　of　failure　modes　of　MCSCS　panels　under　impact　load　were　obtained　via　analyzing　the　test　and　FE　results.　In　addition,　based　on　the　verified　FE　model,　the　influences　of　stiffeners,　impact　location　and　curvature　of　hammer　head　on　impact　responses　of　MCSCS　panels　were　revealed　via　parametric　studies.　The　results　of　FE　simulations　indicated　that　the　impact　location　and　curvature　of　hammer　head　had　evident　effect　on　the　energy　absorption　and　impact　response　of　the　MCSCS　panel.　Moreover,　owing　to　the　employment　of　stiffeners,　the　impact　resistance　of　the　MCSCS　panel　was　evidently　enhanced　as　compared　to　the　traditional　SCS　panel.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd