Experimental and numerical investigation of an exterior reinforced concrete beam-column joint subjected to shock loading

•Dynamic response of exterior reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joint subjected to shock-wave loading is studied.•A well-instrumented shock tube setup is developed to impart shock loading.•Influence of deficiencies in beam-column joint such as in a beam weak in shear, beam weak in flexure and column weak in shear is investigated.•Longitudinal and transverse steel reinforcement at the joint arrests the evolution of crack.•Structures designed with seismic design criteria demonstrate better resistance to deformation and damage when subjected to shock loading.