Based on the horizontal excitation character of the intelligent vibratory roller and the soil parameters, three compaction conditions such as pure rolling, slip-roll and pure slip were classified during the compaction process. According to the working condition in stages the interacted dynamic process between the drum and soil was analyzed. Taking the XG6133D intelligent roller as an example, the response characteristics were investigated by means of numerical simulation. During the compaction process, the motion of vibratory drum occurred from single periodic motion to periodic doubling motion, the peaks and valleys of its time response were induced to be distorted, and spectrums present in addition to the fundamental wave only rich odd harmonics. In theory the conclusion of the article is valuable to forecast the compaction status and improve the compaction quality.