Abstract: Taking riveted fuel tanks with different fuel loading capacities as the research object, the paper conducted ballistic impact tests, and obtained deformation data of the rear panel of the fuel tank. A finite element analysis model was established, with the fuel center as the incident point to analyze the influence of fuel loading on the deformation of the rear panel, internal pressure of kerosene and rivet failure mode. The results show that: the finite element model calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, and can be used to describe the dynamic response behavior of the fuel tank under hydrodynamic ram. At the same speed, the plastic deformation area of the rear panel under high fuel loading is larger than that under low fuel loading, and the deformation mode of the rear panel is a coupled form of plastic hinge lines and petal shaped cracks. Within a certain range, the increase in fuel loading decreases the damage degree of the rivets of the lower wall panel. When the fuel loading is 60% and the incident velocity is 1000 m/s, the rivet connecting the middle position of the rear panel and the lower panel of the fuel tank will break. When the fuel is full, the rivet at this position undergoes elastic deformation.