Article Types
ACF Journal considers four categories of articles: technical papers, invited papers, review papers, and technical documents/reports issued by ACF Technical Committees. All articles should be original and contain significant research findings that are not only logically sound but also supported by scientific evidence.
Submission Guidelines
The submission process requires uploading electronic file(s) online at Scholar One (Manuscript Central). All correspondences, including reviewers’ comments, resubmission of revised electronic file(s), and notification of the Editor-in-Chief’s final decision, are communicated with the corresponding author(s) via e-mail.
ACF Journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. Authors are requested to submit four separate electronic files as follows:
1. Cover letter
2. A separate title page, containing title, all authors’ names and affiliations, and contact information (i.e., email address and telephone number) of the corresponding author(s)
3. A full manuscript including title, all authors’ names and affiliations, abstract, keywords, body of main text, acknowledgement, and references
4. (optional) A list of at least three potential reviewers including names, academic degree(s), position, department, institution, email address, and reason. The referees must be independent and not from your own organization. Please note that the journal may not use your suggestions.
Format
Article Length
There is no limit on the manuscript length for all types of articles, except that discussions on the published articles in the ACF Journal should not be longer than 8 manuscript pages.
Word Processing Software
Microsoft Word is strongly recommended for preparing the manuscript. PDF is not an acceptable file format.
Text
– The text should be double-spaced and both-side justified in single column format, using Times New Roman font and 11-point font size.
– The manuscript must be prepared using A4 typeset with 20-mm margin at all sides.
– The manuscript should not contain any headers or footers except for page numbers.
– Page numbers and consecutive line numbering are required for peer review process.
– Use the International System of Units (SI units). Other units may be given in parenthesis as supplement.
Article Structure
The following is a prototype structure of a technical paper manuscript in the preferred order.
– Title: 80 characters maximum, including spaces between words.
– Author names and affiliations: List all authors’ names by the first name(s), (middle name(s)), and last name(s) without commas. Affiliations of the authors should include the institution and department names in full, and the city, state/province, postal code, and country. Also, clearly indicate the corresponding author with an asterisk who will handle correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication.
– Abstract: 200 words maximum on the first page of the manuscript
– Keywords: Six keywords maximum
– Body of main text: Divide the main text into numbered sections. Subsections should be numbered 1.1, (then 1.1.1, 1.1.2, …) 1.2, etc.
– Acknowledgements
– References
– Appendices
– Appendices
Reference Style
List all bibliographical references cited in the text at the end of the paper. Number the references in order of appearance in
the main text in square brackets in line with the text (e.g., [1], [1,2,3]). Essential information should be cautiously provided using
the following reference style:
Examples:
1. Shin, M.; Kim, K.; Gwon, S.; and Cha, S. (2014) “Durability of sustainable sulfur concrete with fly ash and recycled aggregate against chemical and weathering environments,” Construction and Building Materials, 69, pp. 167~176.
Reference to a Conference Proceeding
2. Shin, M.; Gwon, S.; Lee, K.; and Han, S. (2013) “Improved earthquake-resistant design methods of shallow coupling beams,” Proceedings of the 2013 World Congress on Advances in Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Jeju, Korea.
Reference to a Book
3. Paulay, T. and Priestley, M.J.N. (1992) Seismic design of reinforced concrete and masonry buildings, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, USA.
Figures and Tables
All figures and tables need consecutive numbering, following their order of appearance (e.g., Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Table 1, etc.), along with self-explanatory brief captions. Figures should be submitted at a high resolution. To create tables, authors should use the Table option of Microsoft Word. All figures and tables can be inserted into the main body of the text.
Mathematical Formulae
Please provide mathematical equations in an editable format. Number consecutively and place each of them in the text on a separate line(s). Only simple relevant equations should be provided in the body of the main text: any derivation of an equation(s) should essentially appear in the appendix.
Review Process
Peer Review
The ACF Journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure, with each submission evaluated by at least three international experts in the relevant field.
Review and Revision
Manuscripts may be accepted for publication without change. If revisions are required, the manuscript will be sent back to the author(s) with reviewers’ comments. In this case, an item-by-item detailed response to reviewers’ criticisms should be provided upon resubmission. Based on the recommendations of reviewers and revisions with justification of the criticisms, the final decision for publication or rejection will be made by the Editor-in-Chief.
Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
1. Journal Policies on Authorship and Contributorship
Duties of Authors
Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original works. Any cited work must be properly quoted and listed in the references.
Manuscripts must not be submitted to more than one journal simultaneously.
Authors must not fabricate, falsify, or manipulate research data, figures, or images.
Authorship (first author, corresponding author, or co-author) should be limited to those who have made significant contributions to the research.
The corresponding author is responsible for all communications with the journal, including submission, responses to reviewers, and final approvals. All authors must review and agree to the submission at the time of submission.
If an error or misleading information is identified post-publication, the corresponding author must notify the editor to enable corrections (e.g., erratum).
Duties of Reviewers
Reviewers play a vital role by assisting the editor with the technical evaluation of manuscripts and supporting authors to improve their work.
Privileged information obtained during peer review must remain confidential and should not be disclosed or discussed until publication.
Reviews must be objective, professional, and scientifically grounded. Personal criticism of authors is not acceptable.
Reviewers should alert the editor to any similarity between a manuscript under review and previously published works.
If unable to complete a review in a timely manner, reviewers must promptly notify the editor.
Reviewers must decline to review any manuscript that poses a personal or professional conflict of interest.
Duties of Editors
Editors should handle manuscripts in order of submission and evaluate them based solely on their technical merits.
Editors make the final decision on publication. They may consult reviewers when deciding and must also consider issues such as plagiarism and copyright infringement.
A signed copyright transfer agreement from the corresponding author must be received before final publication.
Editors and editorial staff must maintain confidentiality of all manuscript information prior to publication and may not use unpublished materials for personal purposes.
2. Complaints and Appeals
Complaints: Authors, reviewers, or readers may raise concerns regarding editorial processes (e.g., peer review quality, delays, authorship disputes, editorial decisions). Complaints will be acknowledged within two working days and formally addressed within 15 working days. If more time is needed, the complainant will be informed.
Appeals: Authors may appeal editorial decisions if they believe rejection or requested revisions were based on bias or misunderstanding. Appeals must be submitted in writing with supporting evidence. The editorial board will re-evaluate and respond within the stated timeframe.
3. Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests
Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence their research outcomes or interpretations.
Reviewers and editors must declare any potential conflicts of interest before reviewing or handling a manuscript.
The journal ensures transparency and fairness by appropriately managing all disclosed conflicts of interest.
4. Journal Policies on Data Sharing and Reproducibility
The journal supports open science and encourages authors to share data, code, and methodologies underpinning their findings.
Authors should deposit relevant datasets in recognized repositories and provide persistent links (e.g., DOI) within their manuscripts.
If data cannot be shared due to confidentiality or ethical restrictions, authors must provide a clear justification.
This policy promotes transparency, reproducibility, and verification of research.
5. Policy on Ethical Oversight
The journal adheres to Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.
Issues such as research misconduct, plagiarism, duplicate submission, authorship disputes, ethical approval, and informed consent will be managed according to international publishing standards.
If ethical concerns arise post-publication, the journal may issue corrections, retractions, or editorial notes to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
6. Policy on Intellectual Property
Upon submission, authors automatically transfer the copyright of their manuscript to the ACF Journal. Any reuse of content from a previously published ACF Journal article—regardless of format or medium—requires proper citation of the original publication.
7. Post-publication Discussions and Corrections
Corrections and Retractions: Errors identified after publication may result in the issuance of an erratum, corrigendum, or retraction, depending on severity.
Reader Comments and Author Responses: Readers may submit comments or letters regarding published works. Authors will be invited to reply, and both comments and responses may be published in subsequent issues.