As　a　typical　multi-phase　material,　due　to　its　heterogeneous　mesostructure,　concrete　exhibits　complicated　mechanical　responses　when　subjected　to　high-rate　loads.　Considering　concrete　is　much　weaker　in　tension　than　in　compression,　it　is　of　significance　to　investigate　the　mesomechanism　of　the　dynamic　tensile　fracture　behaviour　of　concrete　under　high-rate　loading　conditions.　In　this　study,　the　meso-heterogeneity　of　concrete　is　considered　by　random　mesostructure　generation　with　efficient　algorithm　of　Entrance　block　between　A　and　B　(E(A,　B)).　A　2D　meso-scale　model　is　developed　by　implementing　a　combined　FDEM　scheme　with　zero-thickness　cohesive　elements　in　ABAQUS　software.　The　proposed　model　is　validated　by　quasi-static　uniaxial　tension　and　uniaxial　compression　tests　as　well　as　dynamic　Brazilian　tensile　split　Hopkinson　pressure　bar　(SHPB)　test　and　then　used　in　a　series　of　Brazilian　tensile　SHPB　tests　to　investigate　the　influences　of　the　loading　rate,　aggregate　area　fraction　and　the　mechanical　properties　of　the　interfacial　transition　zone　(ITZ)　on　dynamic　tensile　behaviour　of　concrete.　The　numerical　results　indicate　that　the　dynamic　tensile　strength　increases　with　increasing　loading　rate　and　the　fragmentation　experiences　a　transition　from　parse　fracturing　to　dramatic　pulverization.　A　higher　aggregate　content　has　an　adverse　effect　on　the　dynamic　tensile　strength　of　concrete.　Moreover,　the　results　also　suggest　that　the　mechanical　properties　of　the　ITZ　play　a　significant　role　on　the　dynamic　tensile　behaviour　of　concrete.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.