SummaryPredicting the consequences of highly energetic particle beams impacting protection devices as collimators or high power target stations is a fundamental issue in the design of state-ofthe-art facilities for high-energy particle physics. These complex dynamic phenomena, which may induce material phase transitions, extended density changes, shock waves generation, explosions, material fragment projections etc., have been successfully simulated resorting to highly non-linear numerical tools (Hydrocodes). In order to produce accurate results, however, these codes require reliable material constitutive models that, at the extreme conditions induced by a destructive beam impact, are scarce and often inaccurate. In order to derive or validate such models (Equations of State, Strength Models, Failure Models), a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind experiment has been recently carried out at CERN HiRadMat facility: performed tests entailed the controlled impact of intense and energetic proton pulses on a number of specimens made of six different materials. Experimental data were acquired, mostly in real time, relying on extensive embedded instrumentation (strain gauges, temperature and vacuum sensors) and on remote acquisition devices (laser Doppler vibrometer and high-speed camera). The dynamic ranges of the digital acquisition system were sufficient to acquire the very fast and intense shock waves generated by the impact. The high speed video camera allowed capturing a number of frames during the time of flight of the material fragments projected away from impacted specimens. This information is then benchmarked against advanced numerical simulations. Preliminary results of the tests are discussed. In depth post-irradiation analyses are foreseen once the specimens have reached a sufficiently low level of activation. The experimental method presented in this paper may find applications to test materials under very high strain rates and temperatures in domains well beyond particle physics (severe accidents in fusion and fission nuclear facilities, space debris impacts, fast and intense loadings on materials and structures etc.).-2 -