In　this　paper,　the　impact　of　the　hail　with　the　single　and　combined　particle　sizes　on　the　saddle　membrane　structure　is　studied　by　experiments　and　numerical　simulations.　In　the　experiment,　the　hail　particles　fall　at　a　certain　height　and　hit　the　membrane,　while　the　dynamic　response　of　feature　points　on　the　membrane　and　the　cable　tension　is　monitored.　Then　the　saddle　membrane　structure　impacted　by　the　hail　particles　is　simulated　by　the　finite　element　software　ANSYS/LS-DYNA.　As　shown　by　the　numerical　simulation　and　experimental　results,　even　though　the　combined　particle　size　hail　load　is　not　enough　to　cause　direct　damage　to　the　membrane,　large　deformation　of　the　saddle　membrane　structure　will　be　produced　by　the　impact.　Meanwhile,　the　tension　of　the　cable　is　greatly　reduced,　and　the　maximum　relaxation　rate　reaches　as　high　as　25.12%.　In　addition,　the　membrane　displacement　induced　by　hails　decreases　with　the　increase　of　the　rise-span　ratio　and　pretension.　Therefore,　the　pretension　relaxation　induced　by　the　hail　impact　should　be　considered　in　the　design　of　the　membrane　structure.　The　stiffness　and　stability　of　the　structure　can　be　improved　by　increasing　the　rise-span　ratio　and　pretension.　The　pretension　should　be　monitored　regularly　so　that　the　maintenance　of　the　secondary　tensioning　can　be　carried　out　in　time.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd