Molecular dynamics study on the glass forming process of asphalt

•Molecular dynamic simulations were used to study glass forming process of asphalt.•Glass transition of asphalt spans a wide temperature range from ca. 400 K to ca. 250 K.•Non-Arrhenius temperature dependence of viscosity implies a transition at ca. 400 K.•Breakdown of Stokes-Einstein relation verifies the transition at ca. 400 K.•Viscoelastic liquid-Newtonian liquid transition at ca. 400 K explained by cage effect.