Peer Review Policy
Mechanical Theory and System (MTS) is dedicated to advancing rigorous academic research through a transparent, fair, and efficient peer review process. Our policy ensures that all submissions meet the highest standards of scientific validity, originality, and relevance to the fields of mechanical theory, system dynamics, and applied engineering.
1. Peer Review Overview
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Review Type:
MTS employs a Double-Blind Peer Review system. Both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the process to minimize bias.
（Optional: For interdisciplinary or highly specialized submissions, a Single-Blind Review may be utilized at the editor’s discretion.） -
Scope:
All manuscript categories (research articles, review papers, short communications) undergo peer review. Exceptions include editorials and invited perspectives.
2. Review Process
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Initial Screening:
Submissions are assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or an Associate Editor for alignment with the journal’s scope, ethical compliance, and basic quality standards. Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria are rejected within 7-10 days. -
Reviewer Selection:
- Reviewers are chosen based on expertise, publication history, and absence of conflicts of interest.
- Each manuscript is assigned to 2-3 independent reviewers.
- Reviewers must confirm availability and confidentiality before accepting the invitation.
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Evaluation Criteria:
Reviewers assess submissions on the following aspects:- Innovation: Novelty of theoretical frameworks or engineering solutions.
- Technical Soundness: Validity of mathematical models, simulations, or experimental methods.
- Reproducibility: Clarity of methodology and data availability for replication.
- Scholarly Impact: Contribution to mechanical systems theory, design optimization, or cross-disciplinary applications.
- Presentation: Adherence to journal formatting and linguistic clarity.
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Timeline:
- Reviewers are expected to submit reports within 3 weeks.
- Authors receive an initial decision (accept, revise, or reject) within 6-8 weeks of submission.
3. Post-Review Decisions
- Acceptance: Manuscripts may be accepted unconditionally or with minor revisions (e.g., grammatical edits).
- Major/Moderate Revisions: Authors are granted 4 weeks to address reviewer comments and resubmit. Revised manuscripts may undergo re-evaluation.
- Rejection: Manuscripts with irreparable flaws (e.g., lack of novelty, methodological errors) are declined. Authors may submit rebuttals if justified.
4. Ethical Guidelines
- Confidentiality: Reviewers must not disclose manuscript details or use unpublished data for personal research.
- Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline invitations if they have recent collaborations, financial ties, or competitive relationships with authors.
- Plagiarism Screening: All submissions are screened via Turnitin/iThenticate. Suspected misconduct is escalated to the editorial board.
5. Appeals and Transparency
- Appeals Process: Authors may contest rejection decisions by submitting a formal rebuttal within 14 days, accompanied by a detailed response to reviewer critiques.
- Reviewer Recognition: Outstanding reviewers are acknowledged annually and may receive waived article processing fees for their own submissions.
6. Open Science Practices
MTS encourages adherence to open science principles:
- Data Sharing: Authors must deposit raw data in public repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare) with DOI links.
- Preprints: Submissions previously shared on arXiv, ResearchGate, or institutional repositories are permitted.
By adhering to this process, MTS ensures the publication of innovative, ethical, and industrially actionable research in materials engineering. For queries, contact the editorial office at mts@gospub.com.
