Key personnel
The Journal of Rehabilitation in Civil Engineering is led by a core editorial team responsible for its strategic direction, content oversight, and operational management. The Director-in-Charge, Abdolhosein Haddad, a professor of geotechnical engineering at Semnan University in Iran, oversees the journal's overall direction and ensures alignment with academic standards in areas such as foundation engineering, geosynthetics, and geotechnical earthquake engineering.[11] The Editor-in-Chief, Ali Kheyroddin, a distinguished professor of structural engineering at the same institution, manages editorial policy, content quality, and peer review processes, drawing on his expertise in reinforced concrete structures, tall buildings, and structural strengthening techniques.[11]
Supporting the leadership, Hosein Naderpour serves as Manager, handling operational aspects including journal production and administrative coordination; he is a professor at Semnan University specializing in earthquake engineering, seismic resilience, structural reliability, and machine learning applications in civil engineering.[11] Pouyan Fakharian acts as Coordinator, assisting in editorial coordination and workflow management, with a focus on structural reliability, artificial neural networks, and soft computing in civil engineering contexts.[11]
The editorial board comprises a diverse group of international experts who provide specialized guidance and support the peer review framework. Notable members include Ajla Akšamija (USA), an expert in building technology and high-performance buildings; Rui Carneiro Barros (Portugal), specializing in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering; Luigi Di Sarno (UK), focused on disaster management and materials in earthquake engineering; Hassan Haji Kazemi (Iran), with expertise in tall buildings; Nader Hataf (Iran), in soil mechanics and geotechnics; Agnieszka Jędrzejewska (Poland), in reinforced and early-age concrete; Denise-Penelope N. Kontoni (Greece), in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering; Davood Mostofinejad (Iran), in concrete technology and FRP composites for strengthening; Vagelis Plevris (Greece/Qatar), in finite element methods and optimum structural design; Abbas Rashidi (USA), in construction engineering and management; Hamid Reza Ronagh (Australia), in general structural engineering; Mehdi Saiid Saiidi (USA), in seismic design and retrofit of bridges and structures; Gholamali Shafabakhsh (Iran), in pavement materials and transportation engineering; and Thanasis Triantafillou (Greece), in advanced composites and strengthening of structures.[11] This board's composition blends Iranian scholars with international representatives from Europe, North America, Australia, and the Middle East, fostering a global perspective across subfields like structural rehabilitation, geotechnical engineering, earthquake resilience, and sustainable materials.[11]
Peer review process
The Journal of Rehabilitation in Civil Engineering (JRCE) employs a single-blind peer review process to maintain the quality and integrity of published research. Submissions are handled entirely online through the journal's platform at http://civiljournal.semnan.ac.ir/, where authors must register and provide institutional email addresses for all contributors, along with details for a designated corresponding author. Manuscripts are submitted in source file format, which the system automatically converts to a single PDF for the review process; authors are also required to suggest at least three potential referees, include keywords, highlights, and disclose any conflicts of interest. An initial structural assessment by the journal director occurs within 5 days to verify compliance with formatting guidelines and completeness of files, potentially returning incomplete submissions for correction.[9][5][1]
Following initial checks, the Editor-in-Chief evaluates the manuscript for alignment with the journal's scope in civil engineering rehabilitation, originality, and potential impact, which may lead to early rejection or recommendations for revisions. All submissions undergo an originality check using iThenticate software, with manuscripts rejected if similarity exceeds 30%; the process emphasizes interdisciplinary relevance to topics such as structural rehabilitation, materials, and sustainable practices in civil engineering. If deemed suitable, the Editor-in-Chief invites expert reviewers—typically at least two from the field—via email, maintaining single-blind anonymity where reviewers know authors' identities but not vice versa. Additional reviewers may be consulted for complex or controversial topics, and the status updates to "under review" upon acceptance of invitations. The average time from submission to final decision is 120 days.[9][5][1]
Reviewer evaluations inform the first decision, which can include acceptance (subject to editorial verification), minor revisions, major revisions (potentially involving more reviewers if opinions conflict), or rejection with explanatory comments. Authors receiving revision requests must resubmit promptly—manuscripts returned after four months are treated as new submissions—accompanied by a detailed point-by-point response to reviewers, justifying any disagreements and providing supporting data if needed. The journal board then assesses the revised version for a final decision: acceptance for publication, further revisions, or rejection if standards remain unmet. JRCE's acceptance rate stands at 23% based on recent data, reflecting rigorous standards. To date, the journal has engaged 966 contributors and 605 reviewers from 30 countries.[9][5][1]
Accepted articles undergo final editorial and typesetting checks, with page proofs sent to the corresponding author for corrections within 72 hours; significant changes require editor approval. Publications appear online first immediately upon acceptance, followed by inclusion in the quarterly print issues, ensuring timely dissemination without page charges. The workflow is managed electronically via email for all correspondence.[9][5][12][1]