Submission of Papers

Authors are requested to submit their original manuscript and figures with three copies to one of the following Editors. Alternatively, a PDF or Word file in double-spaced format with fonts and special characters embedded is acceptable for initial submission.

Prof. Y.S. Li
Department of Civil & Structural Engineering
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hunghom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
China
Email: ceysli@polyu.edu.hk

Prof. J.M. Zhan
Department of Applied Mechanics & Engineering
Sun Yat-Sen University
Guangzhou, 510275
Peoples Republic of China
Email: cejmzhan@gmail.com or stszjm@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Submission language : English

Original material: Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously, that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the Publisher.

Detailed instructions on manuscript preparation and artwork instructions can be found below. The editor reserves the right to return manuscripts that do not conform to the instructions for manuscript preparation and artwork instruction, as well as papers that do not fit the scope of the journal, prior to refereeing.

Manuscript Preparation :

General:
Editors reserve the right to adjust style to certain standards of uniformity. Original manuscripts are discarded one month after publication unless the Publisher is asked to return original material after use. An electronic copy of the manuscript on disk should accompany the final accepted version. Please use Word files for the text of your manuscript.

Structure:
Follow this order when typing manuscripts: Title, Authors, Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords, Main text, Acknowledgments, Appendix, References, Figure Captions and then Tables. Do not import figures into the text. Collate acknowledgments in a separate section at the end of the article and do not include them on the title page, as a footnote to the title or otherwise.

Text Layout:
Use double spacing and wide (3 cm) margins. (Avoid full justification, i.e., do not use a constant right-hand margin.) Ensure that each new paragraph is clearly indicated. Present tables and figure legends on separate pages at the end of the manuscript. Number all pages consecutively, use 12 or 10 pt font size and standard fonts. Print the entire manuscript on one side of the paper only.

Corresponding author:
Clearly indicate who is responsible for correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, including post-publication. Ensure that telephone and fax numbers (with country and area code) are provided in addition to the e-mail address and the complete postal address. Full postal addresses must be given for all co-authors.

Abstract:
A self-contained abstract (100-150 words) outlining in a single paragraph the aims, scope and conclusions of the paper must be supplied.

Keywords:
Immediately after the abstract, provide a maximum of six keywords. Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible.

Units:
Follow internationally accepted rules and conventions: use the international system of units (SI). If other quantities are mentioned, give their equivalent in SI.

References:
All publications cited in the text should be presented in a list of references following the text of the manuscript in alphabetical orders as follows.

Coloring:
Because of technical complications which can arise by converting color figures to "grey scale" please submit black and white versions of all the color illustrations. Also make sure that in your captions and text you do not refer to color, as the images will be black and white in print, and references to color will not make any sense to the reader of the print journal.

Tables:
Tables should be numbered consecutively and given suitable captions and each table should begin on a new page. No vertical rules should be used. Tables should not duplicate results presented elsewhere in the manuscript (for example, in graphs). Footnotes to tables should be typed below the table and should be referred to by superscript lowercase letters.

Supplying Final Accepted Text on Disk:
Once the paper has been accepted by the editor, an electronic version of the text should be submitted together with the final hardcopy of the manuscript. The electronic version must match the hardcopy exactly. Word is the preferred word-processing format. Always keep a backup copy of the electronic file for reference and safety. Label the disk with your name, the journal title and any software used. Save your files using the default extension of the program used. Electronic files can be stored on 3.5 inch diskette, ZIP-disk or CD.

Notification:
Authors will be notified of the acceptance of their paper by the editor.

Copyright:
All authors must sign the Transfer of Copyright agreement before the article can be published. This transfer agreement enables the Publisher to protect the copyrighted material for the authors, but does not relinquish the authors' proprietary rights. The copyright transfer covers the exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute the article, including reprints, photographic reproductions, microfilm or any other reproductions of similar nature and translations. Authors are responsible for obtaining from the copyright holder permission to reproduce any figures for which copyright exists.