About the Journal

Focus and Scope

Journal of Building Materials and Structures (JBMS) is a peer-reviewed online journal, currently published semi-annually. JBMS is a free access journal, and offers a meeting targeted for specialists around the world to publish and discuss all topics related to the building materials and structures.

JBMS topics include, but are not limited to, research on :

  • Elaboration and characterization of building materials.
  • Experimental techniques.
  • Microstructural properties and structural engineering.

Peer Review Process

All manuscripts are peer-reviewed following the procedure outlined below:

  • Initial manuscript evaluation
    The Editors-in-Chief evaluates all manuscripts on initial submission. Some manuscripts can be rejected at this stage. Reasons for rejection at this stage include insufficient originality and scientific merits or outside the aims and scope of the journal. Those that meet the minimum criteria are assigned to a section Editor and passed on for peer review.
  • Type of peer review
    This journal employs double blind review, where the referees and authors remain anonymous throughout the reviewing process.
  • Selection of Referees
    The section Editor in charge may choose to review the paper directly or send it to referees how are matched to the manuscript according to their expertise, reputation or specific recommendations. We welcome suggestions for referees from the author though these recommendations are not necessarily used. The journal reviewer database is constantly being updated.
  • Referee report
    Referees are asked to evaluate whether the manuscript:
  1. Is original
  2. Is methodologically sound
  3. Has results which are clearly presented and support the conclusions
  4. Correctly references previous relevant work
  5. Language correction is not part of the peer review process, but Referees may suggest corrections to the manuscript.
  • Duration of review process
    Typically the manuscript will be reviewed within two to four months, but review time may be longer or shorter in individual cases. Should the referees' reports contradict one another or a report be unnecessarily delayed, a further expert opinion (third referee) will be sought. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the referees for re-review at the discretion of the Editor, depending on the nature and significance of the revisions. Referees may request more than one revision of a manuscript.
  • Final decision
    The final decision to accept or reject the manuscript is the responsibility of the Editor-In-Chief. The decision will be sent to the author along with any recommendations made by the section Editor and by the referees.
  • Call for Applications – Reviewers
    Recognized expertise in civil engineering materials and/or structures is expected, to critically analyze the content of submitted manuscripts. Impartial and helpful recommendations and constructive suggestions which can help improve the manuscript are always expected. The reviewer will work in cooperation with the editor-in–chief or an assigned section editor (Specialists interested in becoming reviewers for JBMS can send their applications to the email: jbms@lagh-univ.dz).

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Archiving

This journal utilizes the LOCKSS system to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration.