Beam-column　joints　are　crucial　to　guarantee　the　integrity　and　ductility　of　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　frame　structures.　Considering　the　strain　rate　effect,　the　failure　mechanism　of　RC　beam-column　joints　under　impact　load　acting　on　the　beam　near　the　core　area　of　joints　was　numerically　investigated.　Based　on　the　verified　numerical　model,　the　differences　between　failure　modes　of　joints　under　static　and　dynamic　loads　were　compared.　The　deformation　and　damage　of　joints　were　analyzed.　In　addition,　the　effects　of　impact　location　and　impact　velocity　were　discussed.　The　results　show　that　the　joints　that　meet　the　shear　demand　under　static　load　have　shear　failure　under　impact　load.　The　impact　load　causes　greater　deformation　and　damage　to　the　joints.　The　transfer　of　the　shear　force　and　the　development　of　the　bending　moment　is　different　as　the　impact　location　changes,　resulting　in　various　dynamic　responses.　As　the　impact　location　approaches　the　core　area,　the　joint　evolves　from　bending　failure　to　shear　failure.　The　maximum　shear　force　only　appears　at　the　impact　location　when　the　distance　between　the　impact　location　and　the　core　area　is　more　than　3.5　times　the　width　of　the　core　area　(b).　However,　the　rotation　of　the　joint　causes　the　yield　of　the　stirrup　in　the　core　area.　It　is　worth　noting　that　when　the　distance　is　less　than　or　equal　to　2b,　the　maximum　shear　force　is　transmitted　to　the　core　area.　With　the　decrease　of　the　distance,　the　time　history　curves　of　impact　force　have　multiple　peaks　with　increased　peak　values　while　the　displacement　and　duration　decrease.　The　damage　range　of　the　joint　is　expanded　when　impacted　with　higher　velocities.　Meanwhile,　the　magnitude　and　duration　of　impact　force,　as　well　as　displacement　are　increased.　With　the　decrease　of　distance　or　impact　velocity,　more　energy　is　consumed　by　concrete　rather　than　rebars　due　to　the　smaller　rotational　deformation　of　the　joint.