The work aims to identify the dynamic response characteristics of a fuel transport cask under typical impact scenarios required by related national standards, so as to provide reference of safety design and protection measures of transport cask. Firstly, the finite element method (FEM) was used to simulate the deformation or failure of fuel transport cask under various typical scenarios, and the correctness and practicability of numerical simulation method were verified by the corresponding experimental results. Then, the dynamic response characteristics of fuel transport cask were identified based on a typical working condition, and the most severe impact condition was determined. Furthermore, the effects of various factors, including the rebound drop impact, bolt pre-tightening force, etc., on response characteristics were discussed in detail. Compared with the experimental results, the correctness of the numerical simulation method was verified. The response characteristics of fuel transport cask under typical impact scenarios were analyzed, and the corresponding most severe impact posture was deduced. The finite element simulation results show that the buffer structure played a good protective role. The impact response caused by the first impact of the transport cask was significantly higher than that caused by the second drop after rebound. The bolt pre-tightening force mainly affected the local stress state, but had no obvious effect on the plastic deformation and failure of bolts. This fuel transport cask has good buffer performance and can meet the protection requirements. The most severe impact conditions under different impact conditions are different from each other. The rebound drop collision and the bolt pre-tightening force had no significant effect on the overall response characteristics and final deformation or failure morphology of the cask.