The　repeated　impact　test　is　an　attractive　method　to　evaluate　different　properties　of　hard　coatings　serving　under　the　conditions　subjected　to　cyclic　loads.　The　main　parameter　leading　to　the　failure　of　coatings　has　been　attributed　to　the　contacting　load.　However,　the　dynamic　impact　loading　is　characterized　in　the　impact　wave,　which　is　much　more　severe　than　that　of　static　loading,　thus　the　load　calculated　by　finite　element　method　using　the　static　stress　is　invalid.　In　this　paper,　the　impact　tests　revealed　two　distinguished　failure　modes　for　CrN-Cu　coatings:　cohesive　and　interfacial.　The　primary　mechanism　for　the　coating　failure　is　interfacial　at　low　loading　forces.　The　failure　mode　can　change　from　adhesive　to　cohesive　at　the　same　loading　force　but　with　increasing　velocity　of　the　ball.　It　was　shown　that　the　applied　kinetic　energy　absorbed　and　transformed　to　the　plastic　deformation　energy　has　a　strong　relationship　to　the　coating　failure.　Thus,　the　energy-cycles　relation　is　a　more　suitable　index　to　indicate　the　damage　resistance　of　coatings.　(C)　2006　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.