Author guidelines

Welcome to Scripta Mechanica

Scripta Mechanica is an international, open-access journal publishing high-quality research in mechanical engineering and related disciplines. We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and technical communications that advance the understanding of mechanical systems, materials, and engineering applications.

1. SUBMISSION PROCESS

Online Submission

All manuscripts must be submitted through our online submission system at: www.scriptamechanica.it/index.php/SCRMEC/about/submissions

Pre-Submission Checklist

Before submitting, ensure your manuscript:

  • ☐ Is original and not under consideration elsewhere
  • ☐ Falls within the journal's scope
  • ☐ Follows the formatting guidelines below
  • ☐ Includes all required sections
  • ☐ Has been checked for plagiarism
  • ☐ Complies with ethical standards

Account Creation

Authors must create an account in the submission system. Use your institutional email address and provide complete author information including ORCID iD (recommended).

2. SCOPE AND ARTICLE TYPES

Journal Scope

Scripta Mechanica publishes research in:

  • Mechanical Design and Analysis
  • Stress Analysis and Structural Mechanics
  • Numerical Simulation and Computational Methods
  • Experimental Mechanics
  • Materials Behavior and Characterization
  • Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
  • Interdisciplinary Applications (robotics, biomechanics, nanotechnology)

Article Types

Original Research Articles (4,000-8,000 words)

  • Novel research with significant findings
  • Complete methodology and comprehensive results
  • Strong contribution to mechanical engineering knowledge

Review Articles (6,000-10,000 words)

  • Comprehensive analysis of current state-of-the-art
  • Critical evaluation of existing literature
  • Future research directions and recommendations

Technical Communications (2,000-4,000 words)

  • Preliminary results or novel techniques
  • Brief reports of significant findings
  • Technical innovations and improvements

Case Studies (3,000-6,000 words)

  • Real-world applications of engineering principles
  • Industrial problem-solving approaches
  • Lessons learned from practical implementations

3. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

General Format

  • Languages: English (American or British, but consistent throughout) or Italian
  • File Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) 
  • Preferred: use the paper template available on the side bar of the journal website.
  • Alternative: 
    • Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
    • Line Spacing: Double-spaced
    • Margins: 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides
    • Page Numbers: Include on all pages

Manuscript Structure

Title Page

  • Concise, descriptive title (maximum 20 words)
  • Full names and affiliations of all authors
  • Corresponding author contact information
  • ORCID iDs for all authors (recommended)

Abstract

  • Maximum 450 words
  • Structured format: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions
  • No references or abbreviations
  • Include 4-6 keywords after the abstract
  • Abstract must be in English and Italian

Main Text Structure:

  1. Introduction
  2. Materials and Methods (or Methodology)
  3. Results
  4. Discussion
  5. Conclusions
  6. Acknowledgments (optional)
  7. References

Specific Section Guidelines

Introduction

  • Clear statement of the problem
  • Brief literature review
  • Research objectives and novelty
  • Scope and limitations

Methods

  • Sufficient detail for reproduction
  • Equipment specifications and settings
  • Statistical methods clearly described
  • Ethical approval mentioned if applicable

Results

  • Present findings clearly and logically
  • Use tables and figures effectively
  • Avoid interpretation (save for Discussion)
  • Report all relevant results, including negative findings

Discussion

  • Interpret results in context of existing literature
  • Address limitations and uncertainties
  • Discuss implications and applications
  • Suggest future research directions

Conclusions

  • Summarize key findings
  • Highlight main contributions
  • Avoid repeating abstract or results

4. FIGURES AND TABLES

Figures

  • Format: High-resolution (300 DPI minimum)
  • File Types: TIFF, PNG, or EPS preferred
  • Size: Maximum 17 cm width
  • Numbering: Sequential (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.)
  • Captions: Descriptive and complete
  • Quality: Professional appearance, clear labels
  • Color: Acceptable for online publication (free of charge)

Tables

  • Format: Editable format (Word table or Excel)
  • Numbering: Sequential (Table 1, Table 2, etc.)
  • Title: Above the table, descriptive
  • Footnotes: Below the table if needed
  • Size: Fit within page margins

Mathematical Equations

  • Numbering: Sequential, right-aligned: (1), (2), etc.
  • Variables: Italicized
  • Symbols: Use standard mathematical notation
  • Software: MathType or Equation Editor acceptable

5. REFERENCES

Reference Style

Use Vancouver style (numbered references in order of appearance)

Format Examples

Journal Articles:

  1. Smith AB, Jones CD. Numerical analysis of stress concentrations in mechanical joints. J Mech Eng Sci. 2023;45(3):123-135. DOI: 10.1234/jmes.2023.456789

Books: 2. Brown EF. Fundamentals of Mechanical Design. 3rd ed. New York: Academic Press; 2022.

Conference Papers: 3. Wilson GH, Taylor IJ. Experimental validation of finite element models. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Mechanical Engineering; 2023 Jun 15-17; London, UK. p. 234-241.

Online Sources: 4. Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Guidelines for stress analysis [Internet]. London: IMechE; 2023 [cited 2024 Jan 15]. Available from: https://www.imeche.org/guidelines

The Scripta Mechanica EndNote style file is available for download.

Reference Management

  • Minimum 20 references for research articles
  • Minimum 50 references for review articles
  • Use recent sources (70% within last 10 years)
  • Include international sources
  • Verify all DOIs and URLs

6. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Authorship

  • All authors must meet authorship criteria
  • Corresponding author responsible for:
    • Obtaining co-author approvals
    • Managing revisions and correspondence
    • Ensuring ethical compliance

Conflicts of Interest

All authors must declare:

  • Financial interests in the research
  • Professional relationships affecting the work
  • Any other potential conflicts
  • Statement required even if no conflicts exist

Research Ethics

  • Human subjects: IRB/Ethics committee approval required
  • Animal research: Institutional animal care approval needed
  • Data: Ensure data collection and sharing comply with regulations
  • Consent: Obtain appropriate permissions for all data used

Plagiarism and Originality

  • All submissions screened for plagiarism
  • Similarity index must be <15% (excluding references)
  • Self-plagiarism not acceptable
  • Proper attribution required for all sources

7. PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Review Type

Single-blind peer review

  • Reviewer identities concealed
  • Minimum 2 reviewers per manuscript
  • International expert reviewers

Timeline

  • Initial screening: 5-7 business days
  • Peer review: 4-6 weeks
  • Editorial decision: Within 1 week of receiving reviews
  • Revision period: 30 days for authors
  • Final decision: Within 2 weeks of revision submission

Possible Decisions

  • Accept: Minor editorial changes only
  • Minor revision: Small changes required
  • Major revision: Significant improvements needed
  • Reject and resubmit: Substantial changes for resubmission
  • Reject: Not suitable for publication

8. PUBLICATION DETAILS

Open Access

  • Access: Immediate open access upon publication
  • License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
  • Fees: No article processing charges (APC = €0)
  • Copyright: Authors retain copyright

Publication Process

  • Acceptance to publication: Immediate (continuous publication)
  • DOI assignment: Automatic for all articles
  • Indexing: Submitted to major databases including Scopus
  • Format: PDF and HTML versions available

Proofs and Corrections

  • Authors receive proofs for final approval
  • Minor corrections only at proof stage
  • Major changes may require re-review
  • Authors responsible for accuracy of final version

9. POST-PUBLICATION

Citation Information

Authors will receive:

  • Complete citation details
  • DOI number
  • Instructions for promoting their work
  • Access to usage statistics

Corrections and Retractions

  • Erratum: For minor errors not affecting conclusions
  • Corrigendum: For errors affecting interpretation
  • Retraction: For serious errors or misconduct
  • All changes follow COPE guidelines

10. SUPPORT AND CONTACT

Editorial Support

Author Services

  • Language editing: Available free for accepted manuscripts
  • Figure preparation: Technical assistance available
  • Submission guidance: Pre-submission inquiries welcome

Response Times

  • General inquiries: 48 hours
  • Technical support: 24 hours
  • Editorial decisions: As per timeline above

11. CHECKLIST FOR SUBMISSION

Before submitting, verify your manuscript includes:

Required Files:

  • ☐ Main manuscript file (with figures embedded)
  • ☐ Separate high-resolution figure files
  • ☐ Supplementary materials (if applicable)
  • ☐ Cover letter

Manuscript Requirements:

  • ☐ Title page with all author information
  • ☐ Abstract (≤300 words) with keywords
  • ☐ Main text following structure guidelines
  • ☐ References in Vancouver style
  • ☐ Figure captions and table titles
  • ☐ Conflict of interest statement
  • ☐ Ethics statement (if applicable)

Quality Checks:

  • ☐ Spell-check and grammar review completed
  • ☐ All figures and tables referenced in text
  • ☐ References formatted correctly and accessible
  • ☐ Mathematical notation consistent
  • ☐ Plagiarism check performed

12. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What are the article processing charges? A: There are no charges. Scripta Mechanica is completely free for authors.

Q: Can I submit a manuscript that was presented at a conference? A: Yes, provided it contains substantial new material and hasn't been published in full elsewhere.

Q: How long should the review process take? A: Typically 4-6 weeks for initial review, with decisions communicated within one week of receiving reviewer reports.

Q: Can I suggest reviewers? A: Yes, you may suggest up to 3 potential reviewers in your cover letter, though the final choice remains with the editors.

Q: Is there a limit on the number of authors? A: No specific limit, but all authors must meet authorship criteria and contribute significantly to the work.

Q: Can I track my manuscript status? A: Yes, through your author account in the online submission system.

Contact Information

Editorial Office Email: editorial@scriptamechanica.it Response time: 48 hours

Technical Support Email: support@scriptamechanica.it Response time: 24 hours

Publisher Italian Scientific Society of Mechanical and Machine Design (AIAS-ETS) Via A. Rendano 18, 00199 Rome, Italy

Last updated: [Date]

We look forward to receiving your high-quality research contributions to Scripta Mechanica!