The paper presents finite element (FE) modelling and simulation of a newly developed rockfall protective cable-net structure in Japan, named the Long-span Pocket-type Rocknet (LPR). A reference case LPR was taken and its element-level laboratory tests and structure-level full-scale field tests conducted in the past were utilized for the calibration and verification of the numerical model exercised on the platform of the code LS-DYNA. The ultimate goal of this research is to shade lights to the targeted design guideline of LPRs. Therefore, deliberately, a simplified (equivalent) but yet rigorous approach has been adopted without going into interface-level detailing. Moreover, a number of confusions unaddressed by the state-of-the-art literatures regarding the effects of the changes in various impact load characteristic-parameters resulting into the same specified kinetic energy have been investigated using the FE model. Furthermore, an investigation on the performance of the existing energy dissipator installed in LPR and the scope of its future modification is discussed. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.