Evaluating structural responses to dynamic loads, such as impact, is critical because these loads can cause severe damage to infrastructure and pose risks to human lives. Structurally important members, like bridge piers and building columns, are particularly vulnerable to impact loads from events such as vehicle collisions or rockfalls. To address these critical issues, we conducted experimental tests using a drop weight impact test to analyze the responses of post-tensioned reinforced concrete column sections under controlled impact loads. A drop tower was employed to accelerate a rigid cylindrical projectile with a flat nose, having a diameter of 100 mm and a length of 380 mm. The impactor’s weight was 21.58 kg. Reaction forces were measured using load cells, while accelerometers captured dynamic responses during impact. Both the reinforced concrete columns and the impactor were equipped with a speckle pattern, facilitating Digital Image Correlation (DIC) analysis. The DIC system was used to track the impactor velocity throughout the event, as well as to measure deflections and observation of the cracking patterns on the column surfaces. In Figure 1, the impact test setup including high speed camera positions is shown. In total, six different column specimens were tested under two distinct impact velocities: 25 m/s and 33 m/s. The cross-section of the columns was 200 mm × 300 mm with a length of 1500 mm. The clear span was 1000 mm and the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement ratio were approximately 2 % and 0.7 %, respectively. The columns were post-tensioned to two levels of 34% and 67% of their axial capacity and compared to a reference specimen with no axial force. This range of axial force was chosen to have a detailed evaluation of how different levels of post-tensioning influenced structural performance, specifically in terms of reaction force, lateral deflection and cracking patterns under impact loading. We observed that the mass of debris generated by the impact increased with impact velocity. In most cases, the debris mass also increased with a higher axial force ratio. This trend is likely due to the release of elastic energy stored within the post-tensioned specimen during the impact event, which intensified the dynamic response. The post-tensioning seemed to induce significant vibrations within the columns. Specifically, we noted a pronounced scabbing of the concrete cover, primarily on the rear side of the impact, which led to the exposure of the reinforcement. (Figure 2) The results of this study can serve as basis for analytical and numerical models and as guideline for testing additional parameters in similar specimens.