An ultrasonic-assisted resistance spot welding process, which can improve the quality of aluminum/steel spot-welded joints, has been developed. However, the mechanism of the thermal-electrical-mechanical behavior caused by the ultrasonic longitudinal vibration to welding process has not been clarified. In this study, the role and impact mechanisms of ultrasonic longitudinal vibration during the welding process to form joints were confirmed by combining the microstructural characterization of the formed joints with the signal analysis of the process, as well as the analysis of the independent finite element numerical calculation results. Additionally, the interface metallurgical reaction behavior, welding defects, fracture behavior, and joint strength characteristics of ultrasonic-assisted aluminum/steel resistance spot welding joints were comprehensively analyzed, and the results indicated that the sizes of the aluminum/steel nuggets decreased. It could be attributed to the competition among multiple ultrasonic effects. Specifically, ultrasonic vibration decreased the contact resistance between the aluminum/steel sheets, whereas the acoustic cavitation and acoustic streaming effects increased the electrical conductivity of molten steel and thermal conductivity of molten aluminum, respectively. Moreover, ultrasonic vibration promoted the radial creep of molten and near-molten aluminum, which expanded in the effective bonding area between the two workpieces. Furthermore, ultrasonic vibration effectively reduced the thickness of the intermetallic compound layer (<3.0 µm), concurrently inhibited the formation of interfacial welding defects. Finally, the peak tensile-shear load of aluminum/steel joints is significantly increased under multiple ultrasonic optimization mechanisms. [Display omitted] • The ultrasonic effects are introduced into the computational model for aluminum/steel resistance spot welding process. • The effect mechanisms of ultrasonic vibration on the aluminum/steel resistance spot welding process were explored. • Ultrasonic vibration facilitates the radial creep of molten and near-molten aluminum, which can expand the bonding area. • Ultrasonic vibration decreases nugget sizes by reducing contact resistance, increasing thermal and electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]