<p>The head-on collision of discrete vortex rings with A-shaped plates was explored experimentally. Re = 3000 vortex rings impinged on six apex angles (<i>θ</i>): 10°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, and 150°. Planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), particle image velocimetry (PIV), and finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) analysis were applied. The results revealed two distinct vortex dynamics regimes governed by the apex angle of the A-shaped plate. For acute angles (<i>θ</i> = 10°–90°), the primary vortex ring was cut by A-shaped plates with acute apex angles and broke off in the early stages of motion. The secondary vortex ring induced by the separated primary vortex ring structure deviates from the plates. The angle between the direction of the secondary vortex ring motion and the model increases with the increase in model apex angle. For obtuse angles (<i>θ</i> = 120°–150°), the primary vortex ring maintained connectivity after impingement because the large-angle A-shaped plates exerted a weaker shearing influence. Secondary vortex rings were induced on both the upper and lower sides and formed asynchronously according to the order of impact on the model. Owing to this asynchrony, the secondary vortex ring moved upstream toward the vortex ring collision axis. The interaction between the primary and secondary vortex rings during motion was reflected in the vortex core trajectories. A specific three-dimensional dynamic schematic of vortex ring head-on collision with A-shaped plates of different angles was proposed.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>