Impact　loads　often　act　on　columns　end　during　accidents　such　as　vehicle　impacts　and　terrorist　attacks.　The　resulting　deformations　lead　to　a　redistribution　of　internal　forces　in　the　member　as　well　as　a　reduction　in　the　load　carrying　capacity.　The　integrity　of　the　core　area　of　the　joint　is　threatened,　which　could　trigger　a　progressive　collapse.　This　study　numerically　investigated　the　damage　and　deformation　of　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　beam-　column　joints　when　they　are　impacted　on　the　column　end.　The　resistance　mechanism　of　joints　and　the　influence　of　impact　location　as　well　as　impact　velocity　was　explored.　Besides,　the　deformation　capacity　of　RC　beam-　column　joints　under　impact　loading　was　quantified　using　equivalent　plastic　hinges.　It　was　found　that　the　damage　and　plastic　deformation　is　concentrated　at　the　impacted　column　end.　The　horizontal　reaction　force　at　the　beam　end　provides　resistance　and　plays　the　role　as　a　bearing.　The　column　bottom　reaction　force　is　in　the　same　direction　as　the　impact　force.　However,　it　is　much　smaller　than　the　beam　end　reaction　force.　The　resistance　mechanisms　within　the　joints　can　be　categorized　into　strut-and-tie　near　the　loading　point　and　arches　in　the　mid-span　of　the　beam　and　column.　The　core　area　rotates　and　has　a　significant　lateral　displacement　towards　the　impact　location,　whether　it　is　loaded　at　the　beam　end　or　the　column　end.　As　the　impact　location　moves　away　from　the　core　aera,　the　impacted　column　end　exhibit　more　bending　failure.　With　increasing　impact　velocity,　the　impact　force,　reaction　force　and　total　energy　absorption　of　the　joint　increase.　The　deformation　increases,　with　more　damage　occurring　in　the　core　area　and　spreading　to　the　beam.　In　addition,　the　plastic　curvature　was　used　to　describe　the　actual　plastic　deformation　of　the　joints,　whose　maximum　occurring　at　the　interface　where　the　impacted　column　end　meets　the　core　area.　A　formula　for　the　equivalent　plastic　hinge　length　of　RC　joints　was　proposed,　taking　into　account　the　effects　of　impact　location　and　impact　velocity.