Abstract: Ship impact will have effect on the safety of piles of bridges, while the study on the dynamic response of the piles under impact is scarce. By using the direct method, the model tests are carried out. Models for impact, single pile, bearing platform and soils are established. The process of impacting the bearing platform is simulated. The data of the dynamic response of the piles are obtained. How the characteristics of the impact, superstructure, piles and soils affect dynamic response of pile is studied. It is stated that the maximal horizontal displacement of pile top and the maximum acceleration of pile top are affected by the mass and velocity of impact, load of supperstructure, diameter of piles and shear modulus of soils.