Introduction Rubber-cement composites (RCC) is an environmentally friendly, green, and sustainable cement-based energy-absorbing materials. To study the dynamic response characteristics of RCC under explosion shock, the central explosion tests of RCC plate specimens were carried out by using the two-dimensional plate blasting (TDPB) test system. In the aspect of strain wave propagation, the characteristics and laws of explosive strain wave propagation in RCC plate structure were analyzed. In terms of damage characteristics, the macro-damage modes of RCC plate specimens under central explosion were analyzed, and the formation and propagation mechanisms of radial explosion growth cracks and the formation mechanism of central annular spalling were revealed. In terms of explosion resistance characteristics, combined with the meso-fracture morphology of RCC, the synergistic characteristics of mechanics and energy dissipation among cement mortar matrix, rubber particles, and pore structure were analyzed from the meso-level, and the explosion resistance mechanism of RCC plate structure was further revealed. RCC effectively combined the explosion resistance concepts of “coupling rigidity with flexibility” and “overcoming rigidity by flexibility”, showing excellent explosion resistance ability. Finally, in view of the key scientific problem existing in RCC, the scientific and effective solution was discussed deeply, and the development method and research directions of the new RCC were further prospected. Material and Methods Results Conclusions