Abstract The paper deals with the influence of strain rate on the mechanical behaviour of the Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. After verification tests under static loading conditions, the specimens were deformed at high strain rates using the device for the Taylor anvil test. Results of an image analysis of deformed specimens from the Taylor anvil test were used as a reference for the comparison of experiment and computer simulation in the ANSYS LS-DYNA 3D program. Using a new developed algorithm the parameters of Johnson-Cook equation were determined to obtain the best possible agreement between deformed shapes obtained by numerical simulation and by real experiment.