解:$(2)$过点$D$作$DF\perp AC$于点$F$
∵$AD$是角平分线,$DE\perp AB,$$DF\perp AC$
∴$DF = DE = 3$
∵$S_{\triangle ABC}=S_{\triangle ABD}+S_{\triangle ACD},$
$S_{\triangle ABD}=\frac 12\ \mathrm {A}B×DE,$$S_{\triangle ACD}=\frac 12\ \mathrm {A}C×DF$
∴$15=\frac 12×4×3+\frac 12×AC×3$
解得$AC =6$