This study concentrates on the transverse low-speed impact behavior of adhesively bonded similar and dissimilar clamped plates using the three-dimensional explicit finite element method. The contact force and plastic dissipation histories of the adhesively bonded dissimilar plates, such as aluminum-aluminum (Al-Al), aluminum-steel (Al-St), steel-aluminum (St-Al) and steel-steel (St-St) layered structures, were studied for different values of the impactor mass, radius and velocity (impact energies). The residual plastic strains in both adhesive layer and plates increased with increasing impact energies. The impactor radius had only a minor effect on the contact force histories for all configurations. The peak transverse deflection in the impact region was maximal in Al-Al, decreased in Al-St, St-Al plates and became minimal in St-St bonded plates. Impact effect was evident in the back plates of all four configurations. Al-Al plates dissipated impact energy as much as the adhesive layer, whereas the adhesive layer rather than plates absorbed the impact energy in Al-St, St-Al and St-St bonded plates and this state became evident in the St-St bonded plates. The number and locations of the steel plates considerably affected impact force history, impact time as well as the plastic dissipation level; thus, the contact force increased, the contact time shortened and the dissipated energy decreased. As the impact energy was increased the impact period got longer. Damage areas in the adhesive layer were minimal in Al-Al bonded plates but maximal in St-St bonded plates. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2011