Asphalt　concrete　(AC)　is　a　composite　material　consisting　of　binder,　aggregates　and　air　voids.　The　quantitative　effect　of　aggregate-to-aggregate　contact　on　the　mechanical　performance　of　AC　is　an　important　and　complex　issue,　which　has　not　been　fully　understood　yet.　To　fill　this　gap,　this　study　aims　to　characterize　the　aggregate　contacts　in　AC　and　evaluate　their　effects　on　the　viscoelastic　behavior　of　AC　through　micromechanical　finite　element　(FE)　modeling.　To　this　end,　3D　microstructural　models　were　generated　through　digital　image　processing　(DIP)　method　and　aggregate　contacts　were　captured　in　the　model　via　contact　zone　(CZ)　elements.　A　CZ　model　was　proposed　and　verified　by　a　parametric　study　to　identify　the　viscoelastic　properties　of　CZ　elements,　while　the　viscoelastic　properties　of　matrix　phase　were　determined　through　laboratory　tests.　Steady-state　dynamic　(SSD)　analysis　was　then　conducted　to　investigate　the　macro-scale　viscoelastic　response　of　AC.　It　was　found　that　the　proposed　modeling　approach　captures　the　measured　response　accurately.　Accounting　for　aggregate　contacts　results　in　higher　predicted　AC　dynamic　moduli　and　lower　phase　angles,　thus　improving　the　agreement　between　modeling　and　experimental　results.　The　numerical　model　developed　in　this　study　provides　a　promising　approach　for　investigating　the　effect　of　aggregate　contacts　on　the　mechanical　performance　of　AC.　(c)　2021　The　Authors.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　This　is　an　open　access　article　under　the　CC　BY-NC-ND　license　(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).