Repeated　loading　and　unloading　tests　were　carried　out　on　concrete　under　different　confining　pressures　and　strain　rates　to　characterize　the　damage　using　the　decrease　in　elastic　modulus,　and　a　damage　evolution　equation　considering　the　effects　of　confining　pressure　and　strain　rate　was　established.　At　the　same　time,　the　yield　criterion　and　equation　of　state　of　the　Holmquist–Johnson–Cook　(HJC)　model　were　modified　by　combining　the　experimental　data　of　high　confining　pressure.　The　modified　model　was　validated　by　performing　single-element　numerical　simulations　for　different　stress　states.　Then,　experiments　were　carried　out　on　the　penetration　of　tungsten　alloy　projectiles　into　concrete　slabs,　with　penetration　velocities　ranging　from　172　m/s　to　302　m/s.　The　depth　of　penetration　and　crater　area　were　obtained.　Numerical　simulations　were　subsequently　carried　out　using　the　proposed　model.　The　results　showed　that　this　model　can　describe　the　behaviour　of　concrete　under　dynamic　loading.　Finally,　the　damage　evolution　mechanism　of　concrete　during　the　penetration　process　is　analysed　in　conjunction　with　the　proposed　damage　evolution　equation.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd