Abstract: The behavior of a cellular sacrificial cladding for blast attenuation was studied by using 1D shock models and 3D cell-based finite element models. Based on a rate-independent, rigid-plastic hardening (R-PH) idealization, a shock model was developed and an equation governing the shock wave propagation in the sacrificial cladding was obtained. The results reveal the shock wave propagation characteristics in the sacrificial cladding. Two parameters, the attached mass and the strength of blasting load, are very important for the cellular sacrificial cladding design. Comparison of the sacrificial cladding structure designs based on the rigid-perfectly plastic-locking (R-PP-L) model and the R-PH model was presented and the applicable conditions of the two shock models were given. Finally, a cell-based finite element model using 3D Voronoi technology was employed to verify the design criteria of the cellular sacrificial cladding structure based on the R-PH model.