The　research　explores　the　influence　of　direct　coal　liquefaction　residue　(DCLR)　as　a　fine　aggregate　on　the　rutting　behavior　of　asphalt　mixtures　(AMs).　Four　AMs　were　prepared　and　modeled,　namely　AM　(AM-0),　AM　with　2.36　mm　DCLR　(AM-2.36),　AM　with　1.18　mm　DCLR　(AM-1.18),　and　AM　with　0.6　mm　DCLR　(AM-0.6).　Firstly,　the　rutting　depth　and　uplift　height　of　AMs　were　analyzed.　Results　indicated　that　the　rutting　depth　and　uplift　height　of　AMs　increased　with　rising　temperatures　and　loads.　The　order　of　rutting　depth　and　uplift　height　of　AMs　at　different　temperatures　and　loads　was:　AM-0＞AM-2.36＞AM-1.18＞AM-0.6.　This　suggests　that　DCLR　replacing　fine　aggregates　improved　the　high-temperature　performance　of　AMs,　and　DCLR　replacing　0.6　mm　fine　aggregate　was　the　best　alternative.　Moreover,　the　influence　mechanism　of　DCLR　on　the　rutting　behavior　was　investigated　by　the　force　chain　distribution　and　particle　movement.　The　results　showed　that　the　rutting　deformation　was　caused　by　the　movement　of　0.6–2.36　mm　particles.　Compared　with　AM-0,　the　chain　distribution　of　AM-2.36　was　uniform　and　sparse,　and　the　movement　of　0.6–2.36　mm　particles　in　AM-2.36　was　small.　This　was　due　to　the　composite　modification　effect　of　DCLR　within　the　AM,　which　increased　the　bonding　degree　of　asphalt　mastics.　This　enhancement　improved　connectivity　between　aggregates,　strengthened　their　load　transfer　capacity,　and　raised　the　AM＇s　overall　self-organizing　adaptability.　Finally,　it　was　also　found　that　DCLR　as　fine　aggregates　served　dual　roles　within　the　AM,　acting　both　as　a　skeleton　and　a　filler.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd