The nonlinear dissipative spring mass (NDSM) model for a percussive drill rod joint of the coupling sleeve (CS) type has been implemented into a Modula-2 program with the aid of which percussive drilling of rock is simulated. Transmission and dissipation of energy are first studied when a rectangular stress wave, generated through the impact by a uniform hammer, is transmitted through a single joint. The efficiency of energy transmission increases from 81 to 94% and the relative energy dissipation decreases from 8 to 1 or 2% when the length of the hammer varies from relatively short to relatively long. The effect of the joint preload is weak in the range from medium to relatively high preload. The efficiency of the percussive drilling process decreases with the number of joints but depends little on the joint preload. For soft rock, the efficiency increases with hammer length, whereas for medium and hard rock the dependence of efficiency on hammer length is not monotonic. This is because soft rock requires a long incident wave for efficient conversion of energy to work at the bit, whereas the reverse is true for hard rock. It is also found that the efficiency of the percussive drilling process may be considerably underestimated if the effects of each joint on the length and shape of the transmitted wave and of multiple reflections within the drill string are neglected