Research progress and development trends in numerical simulation methods for analyzing the dynamic response and failure process of dams under blast and impact loads are reviewed. Research findings regarding the dynamic response and failure process of dams under blast loading obtained through the existing numerical simulation methods for the computation of explosion mechanics are focally summarized. It is pointed out that the dam dynamic response analysis under blast loading involves an explosion,the formation and propagation of a shockwave,the interaction between the shockwave and the dam body,and the dynamic response of the dam body. The classification and characteristics of the blast loads exerted on dams and their damage effects on dams are summarized,and issues that require more attention in dam explosion simulation under explosion conditions are pointed out. Based on current research,the latest research achievements of computational mechanics should be absorbed into future research to develop high-precision numerical methods and high-efficiency numerical solution systems,and to realize the entire process simulation of the dam dynamic response to explosions.