Abstract: To indicate clearly the dynamic response mechanism and deformation strengthening mechanism of shipbuilding steel materials under ultra-high strain rate, the free surface velocity-time curve of E36 shipbuilding steel under impact pressure of 10, 20 and 30 GPa was measured through one-dimensional plate impact test, and the Hugoniot elastic limit and spall strength of E36 shipbuilding steel were calculated. ANSYS software was used to simulate the temperature field under different impact pressure. The damage evolution law and deformation strengthening mechanism of E36 shipbuilding steel under high-pressure impact were studied based on SEM, TEM and other techniques. The results show that the spalling occurs in the materials under the above mentioned impact pressures, and the damage mechanism is the nucleation, growth and aggregation of micropores and microcracks. With the increase of impact pressure, the Hugoniot elastic limit of E36 shipbuilding steel change little while the spalling strength gradually increases. Phase transformation strengthening, dislocation strengthening and twin strengthening are the main strengthening mechanisms of E36 shipbuilding steel under high pressure and high strain rate.