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In this contribution, we propose a dynamic gradient damage model as a phase‐field approach for studying brutal fracture phenomena in quasi‐brittle materials under impact‐type loading conditions. Several existing approaches to account for the tension–compression asymmetry of fracture behavior of materials are reviewed. A better understanding of these models is provided through a uniaxial traction experiment. We then give an efficient numerical implementation of the model in an explicit dynamics context. Simulations results obtained with parallel computing are discussed both from a computational and physical point of view. Different damage constitutive laws and tension–compression asymmetry formulations are compared with respect to their aptitude to approximate brittle fracture. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.