The　paper　presents　a　study　of　the　fracture　morphology　and　tensile　strength　characteristics　of　asphalt　mixtures　under　indirect　tensile　tests.　A　Split　Hopkinson　Pressure　Bar　(SHPB)　and　Universal　Testing　Machine　(UTM)　were　utilized　under　the　impact　(27.7–93.8　s−1)　and　quasi-static　loading　modes　(0.008–0.033　s−1),　respectively.　It　was　found　that　the　bonding,　cohesive,　and　intra-aggregate　failures　occurred　under　quasi-static　loading,　and　even　the　large　aggregates　were　broken　under　the　impact　loading.　The　cracks　can　be　treated　as　two　and　three　dimensional　under　quasi-static　and　impact　loading　modes,　respectively.　The　temperature　effect　on　tensile　strength　under　impact　loading　was　significantly　less　than　that　of　quasi-static　loading,　and　the　enhancement　of　dynamic　loading　increased　considerably　in　higher　temperatures.　The　temperature　was　the　major　external　factor　to　influence　the　brittleness　of　the　asphalt　mixture,　while　the　influence　of　the　strain　rate　was　relatively　small.　Finally,　some　suggestions　to　improve　the　cracking　resistance　of　asphalt　mixtures　were　proposed　in　both　loading　modes.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd