Abstract: In order to improve the energy utilization rate and reduce the energy dissipation, explosive welding was carried out with self-restraint structure explosive. T2 copper and Q345 steel were used as fly and base layers, respectively, and self-restraint structure explosive was adopted as welding explosive. The explosive welding process was simulated by ANSYS/AUTODYN code, and the copper/steel explosive welded clad plate was prepared. The welding quality was analyzed by mechanical property testing and microscopic morphology observation. The results show that self- restraint structure could reduce the dissipation of its own detonation products, which makes more explosive energy into kinetic energy of flyer layer and improves energy utilization rate. The collision velocity of copper/steel explosive welding is greater than the critical collision velocity of 345 m/s after detonation distance is greater than 100 mm away from the initiation end. The ultimate collision velocity at a detonation distance of 150 mm is 567 m/s. The initiation end of the copper/steel clad plate is of linear bonding, the bonding interface is transformed into wavy bonding as detonation distance increases. The shear strength of copper/steel clad plate is 237.0 MPa, and the fracture position is on the copper side. Copper layer existed work hardening after tension shear failure, and the farther measuring point from the interface is, the stronger the microhardness and plastic deformation is.