Drop-weight impact tests were conducted on 2024-T3 aluminum plates with five types of impactors, and then the effects of the dent on the residual ultimate strength of the 2024-T3 specimens were investigated through axial compression tests. Results indicate that with increase in dent depth, the five types of dents affect the ultimate strength of the plate in different trends. Nevertheless, other than the plate global deflection caused by impacting, the dent itself has unremarkable effect on the ultimate strength. The mathematical expressions are derived regarding the relationship between impact energy factor and the dent depth factor as well as the compressive ultimate strength reduction rate and the dent depth factor.
