Asphalt　concrete　(AC)　shows　significant　tension-compression　(TC)　asymmetry,　i.e.,　different　properties　in　tension　and　compression　(T&C).　This　asymmetry　may　profoundly　affect　AC＇s　performance　and　deterioration　in　the　field,　but　limited　studies　have　been　performed　to　quantify　this　behavior.　This　study　aims　to　quantitively　characterize　the　global　and　local　mechanical　responses　of　AC　in　T&C　through　numerical　modeling.　To　this　end,　three　AC　mixtures:　the　gap-graded　SMA10,　dense-graded　AC20,　and　open-graded　mixtures　PA13,　were　evaluated　experimentally　and　numerically.　Digital　image　processing　was　used　to　generate　image-based　AC　models　with　contact　regions　(CR),　and　dynamic　simulations　were　conducted　using　the　steady-state　dynamics　(SSD)　approach.　The　results　indicated　that　the　measured　and　predicted　master　curves　for　AC　in　T&C　qualitatively　agree　and　demonstrate　significant　asymmetry,　with　higher　moduli　but　lower　phase　angles　in　compression　compared　to　tension.　Among　the　mixtures,　PA13　exhibited　the　most　pronounced　asymmetry,　followed　by　SMA10　and　AC20.　Statistical　analyses　of　local　stress　and　strain　found　that　the　stress　and　strain　in　different　phases　show　significant　variations,　with　more　pronounced　disparities　observed　at　lower　frequencies.　Notably,　at　10−6　Hz　for　PA13　in　compression,　the　stress　within　the　aggregate　phase　exceeded　that　of　the　matrix　phase　by　over　250　times,　while　the　strain　within　the　matrix　phase　surpassed　the　aggregate　phase　by　more　than　600　times.　To　enhance　pavement　durability,　it　is　recommended　to　consider　AC＇s　TC　asymmetry　in　pavement　design.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd