Recently,　the　impact　behavior　and　anti-impact　design　of　concrete-filled　steel　tubes　(CFSTs)　have　attracted　increasing　attention;　the　existing　analytical　theories　have　mainly　focused　on　equivalent　static　methods.　Thus,　this　study　presents　numerical　and　analytical　analyses　of　simplified　evaluation　methods　for　square　CFST　members　subjected　to　transverse　impacts,　by　adopting　dynamic　impact　action　(i.e.,　impact　mass　and　impact　velocity)　to　evaluate　the　impact　resistance.　A　finite　element　model　was　first　established　and　benchmarked　based　on　38　test　results　collected　from　existing　studies　with　a　wide　range　of　test　parameters.　The　impact　process,　distribution　and　development　of　the　internal　force,　and　development　of　the　stress,　strain,　and　strain　rate　were　comprehensively　analyzed.　The　dynamic　overall　buckling　of　the　CFST　members　under　coupling　actions　of　the　axial　load　and　transverse　impact　was　investigated　and　compared　with　the　control　groups　for　CFST　members　without　an　axial　load.　Based　on　the　parametric　analyses,　the　yield　strength　of　steel,　section　width,　steel　ratio,　and　axial　load　level　(n)　are　important　factors　affecting　the　impact　resistance.　A　simplified　formula　was　therefore　proposed　to　evaluate　the　impact　resistance　of　CFST　members　with　n　≤　0.5.　A　machine　learning　method　was　also　employed　to　predict　the　impact　resistance　of　CFST　members　covering　a　wider　range　of　axial　load　levels　(n　≤　0.9).　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd