<p>To explore the dynamic response and failure mechanism of a Kiewitt-type cable dome structure under impact loads, a dynamic response analysis method was developed and failure criteria were established. Based on the positional relationship between the rod and the impact point, the cable dome structure is categorized into three distinct zones: the impact zone, non-impact zone 1, and non-impact zone 2. The dynamic response of the structure was analyzed using ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. Based on the analysis results, four failure modes of the structure under impact loads were identified and characterized, and the dynamic responses under each mode were analyzed. Energy absorption functions and corresponding thresholds for different failure modes were established. By analyzing the kinetic energy of the impactor and the energy absorbed by the cable dome structure, the impact failure mechanism was elucidated. Failure modes can be divided into four types: Mode 1 (non-failure), Mode 2 (local instability), Mode 3 (local failure), and Mode 4 (complete failure). In Modes 1, 2, and 3, the largest increases in internal force were observed in the inner diagonal cables, while the smallest increases were in the outer diagonal cables. In mode 4, the largest increases in internal force occurred in the outer loop cables. During the natural vibration process, the displacement of the nodes in the impact zone reached their maximized value and then gradually transferred to both non-impact zones. The transformation of kinetic energy into strain energy in the structure was related to the duration of the impact; a longer impact time resulted in more complete energy transformation. Finally, based on the analysis results, suggestions were made for the impact resistance design of a Kiewitt-type cable dome structure. The results demonstrate that the failure mode of the structure can be predicted from the amount of energy absorbed by the structure.</p>