A　three-dimensional　(3-D)　Finite　Element　Analysis　(FEA)　model　incorporating　an　elastic-plastic　(EP)　damage　model,　which　was　implemented　as　a　user-defined　material　(‘VUMAT’)　sub-routine　in　a　FEA　code　(‘Abaqus/Explicit’),　is　developed　to　simulate　the　impact　response　of　carbon-fibre　reinforced-plastic　(CFRP)　composites.　The　model　predicts　the　load　versus　time　and　the　load　versus　displacement　responses　of　the　composite　during　the　impact　event.　Further,　it　predicts　the　extent,　shape　and　direction　of　any　intralaminar　damage　and　interlaminar　delaminations,　i.e.　interlaminar　cracking,　as　a　function　of　the　depth　through　the　thickness　of　the　impacted　CFRP　test　specimen,　as　well　as　the　extent　of　permanent　indention　caused　by　the　impactor　striking　the　composite　plate.　To　validate　the　model,　experimental　results　are　obtained　from　relatively　low-velocity　impact　tests　on　CFRP　plates　employing　either　a　matrix　of　a　thermoplastic　polymer,　i.e.　poly(ether-ether　ketone),　or　a　thermosetting　epoxy　polymer.　The　3-D　EP　model　that　has　been　developed　is　shown　to　model　successfully　the　experimentally-measured　impact　behaviour　of　the　CFRP　composites.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd