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 evidences.

Article types

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 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 make mathematical equations as 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

All articles submitted to ACF Journal will undergo a peer-review process by at least three international experts on the specific subject of each submitted article for technical evaluation.

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 revision with justification of the criticisms, final decision for publication or rejection will be made by the Editor-in-Chief.

PUBLICATION ETHICS

1. Duties of Authors

– The author(s) should write original works. In case the author(s) has partly cited the work of others, the part cited should be quoted while the quoted article be included in the reference of the manuscript.

– The author(s) should not submit and try to publish a manuscript of the same work in more than one journal.

– The author(s) should not fabricate or intentionally change data and/or photos that are results of research.

– The author(s), first author, corresponding author or coauthor, should be the one who has significantly contributed to the research.

– A corresponding author is the author who is responsible for communication for the purpose of publication of the manuscript in the ACF Journal: i.e. submission of the manuscript and the responses to reviewer’s comments, etc. All authors should have seen the manuscript at the time of original submission and agreed to its submission.

– In case a technical mistake or editorially misleading error is found in the published paper, the corresponding author of the specific paper should contact and notify the editor of the ACF Journal so that the editor can properly act to it: e.g. Errata.

– The author(s) should disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript.

2. Duties of Reviewers

– The importance of reviewer’s role is acknowledged as a reviewer assists the editor for technical evaluation and processing of the manuscript, to assist editor to make editorial decisions and may assist the author(s) to improve the manuscript.

– Any specific privileged information acquired by the reviewer during reviewing a manuscript should be kept confidential to the reviewer. The contents of a manuscript in general should not be shown to or discussed with others until the manuscript is published.

– While reviewing a manuscript, the reviewer should use professional knowledge objectively and provide the author(s) with opinions that are scientifically backed up. Any personal criticism of the author(s) by a reviewer should be avoided.

– A reviewer should inform editor any similarity between a manuscript and an already published paper.

– In case a reviewer feels he (or she) is unable to provide a timely review, he (or she) should notify the editor as such and decline to review that manuscript.

– A reviewer should decline to review a manuscript that can be of conflict of interest personally or professionally.

3. Duties of Editors

– The editor should handle a manuscript in the order of the first submission date in general and evaluate a manuscript solely based on technical merits of the manuscript.

– The editor is responsible to make decision on the final publication of a manuscript. The editor may consult with the reviewers to reach a final decision, which may include copyright infringement and plagiarism.

– A copyright transfer agreement signed by a corresponding author should be submitted prior to the final publication of a manuscript.

– The editor and editorial staff should not disclose any information acquired from a manuscript to others until final publication. The editor and editing staff should not attempt to use any unpublished materials included in an unpublished manuscript.