Journal profile · Engineering, Chemical
Combustion and Flame
ISSN 0010-2180 · eISSN 1556-2921 · Elsevier Inc. · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1957
Combustion and Flame: CAS Zone 1 · Engineering (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 5.87; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,320; review about 136 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly hard; 709 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Combustion and Flame is published by Elsevier Inc. and is in Zone 1 of Engineering in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Combustion and flame dynamics, Advanced Combustion Engine Technologies and Combustion and Detonation Processes, together about 53.8% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The official journal of the Combustion InstituteThe mission of the journal is to publish high quality work from experimental, theoretical, and computational investigations on the fundamentals of combustion phenomena and closely allied matters. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of combustion, it is expected that advancements can be made in any specific discipline. However, for a manuscript to be considered for publication, it must be demonstrated how such advancements impact the combustion process.While submissions in all pertinent areas are welcomed, past and recent focus of the journal has been on:Sustainable combustion and decarbonization, including but not limited to:Reduced carbon fuels;E-fuelsZero carbon fuels;Biofuels;Energy storage;New concepts for clean, decarbonized energy generation using combustion.Development and validation of reaction kinetics, reduction of reaction mechanisms and modeling of combustion systems,including but not limited to:Conventional, alternative and surrogate fuels;Pollutants;Particulate and aerosol formation and abatement;Heterogeneous processes.Experimental, theoretical, and computational studies of laminar and/or turbulent combustion phenomena, including but not limited to:Premixed and non-premixed flames;Ignition and extinction;Laminar and turbulent flame propagation and structure;Intrinsic, hydrodynamic, and thermoacoustic instabilitiesSupersonic flows and detonations;Liquid droplets and solid particles;Flame spread;Multi-phase reactants.Advances in diagnostic and computational methods in combustion, including but not limited to:Measurement of scalar and vector properties;High-fidelity simulations (Direct Numerical Simulation, Large Eddy Simulation)Novel techniques;State-of-the art applications.Fundamental investigations of combustion technologies and systems, including but not limited to:Internal combustion engines (piston engines, gas turbines, etc.);Detonation-driven engines;Metal and propellant combustionSmall- and large-scale stationary combustion and power generation;Catalytic combustion;Combustion synthesis;Combustion under extreme conditions.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Engineering, Chemical
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 6%); most named United States 14, France 6, Italy 5, Mainland China 2, United Kingdom 2 (34 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Combustion and flame dynamicsEngineering23.5%
- Advanced Combustion Engine TechnologiesChemical Engineering18.9%
- Combustion and Detonation ProcessesEngineering11.4%
- Fire dynamics and safety researchEngineering7.4%
- Energetic Materials and CombustionEngineering5.6%
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosolsEarth and Planetary Sciences4.3%
- Catalytic Processes in Materials ScienceMaterials Science4.1%
- Rocket and propulsion systems researchEngineering2.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Engineering Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Engineering, Chemical | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Engineering, Mechanical | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Engineering, Multidisciplinary | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Thermodynamics | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Energy & Fuels | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Thermodynamics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Energy & Fuels | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Engineering, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Chemical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Mechanical | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Chemical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Mechanical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Thermodynamics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Energy & Fuels | Zone 3 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 5.87LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 5.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 11.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 11.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.9LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.86LetPub ·
- h-index
- 154LetPub ·
- h-index
- 269OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 10,170OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.18OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 20.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 26.33%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 657LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 14,936 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 502 | 170 | 491 |
| 2025 | 709 | 266 | 3,869 |
| 2024 | 557 | 221 | 6,568 |
| 2023 | 563 | 293 | 10,255 |
| 2022 | 526 | 255 | 13,974 |
| 2021 | 597 | 296 | 19,062 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
136 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 6 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 6 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly hardLetPub ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 136 daysPublisher website ·
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,320 / EUR 4,040 / GBP 3,460 / JPY 535,810 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
Other charges and waivers (author guidelines)
- Page charges
- No page charges
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 100–300 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted18
- brief communicationThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
- brief communication articles• Brief Communication Articles containing original research contributions, which cannot exceed 3 pages following the formatting of the Word and Latex templates.Length not stated
- comment articles• Comment Articles regarding already published research, which cannot exceed 3 pages following the formatting of the Word and Latex templates.Length not stated
- corrigendum articles• Corrigendum Articles correcting errors made by the authors, which cannot exceed 3 pages following the formatting of the Word and Latex templates.Length not stated
- erratum articles• Erratum Articles correcting errors introduced by the publisher, which cannot exceed 3 pages following the formatting of the Word and Latex templates.Length not stated
- full-length articles• Full-Length Articles containing original research contributions. Given that in most cases conciseness improves the quality and impact of published articles, a…Length not stated
- hypothesisThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
- opinionThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
- opinion articles• Opinion Articles containing the author's opinion/viewpoint on the strengths or weaknesses of the assumptions or hypotheses related to a topic or subject. The …Length not stated
- original researchThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
- perspectiveThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
- perspective articles• Perspective Articles containing the author's insights regarding current researLength not stated
- position articles• Position Articles containing an arguable opinion about a topic or subject aiming to convince the audience. The content and length will be determined upon cons…Length not stated
- reply articles• Reply Articles containing direct response to a comment, which cannot exceed 3 pages following the formatting of the Word and Latex templates.Length not stated
- review articleThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
- review articles• Review Articles containing survey and critical evaluation of previously published research on a topic. The content and length will be determined upon consulta…Length not stated
- surveyThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
- viewpointThe following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:The following categories of submissions will be considered for publication:Unsolicite…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Plagiarism, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing
Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing Model summary
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Author contributions
For transparency, we require corresponding authors to provide co-author contributions to the manuscript using the relevant CRediT roles. The CRediT taxonomy includes 14 different roles describing each contributor's specific contribution to the scholarly output. The roles are: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Funding acquisition; Investigation; Methodology; Project administration;…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interest
Declaration of competing interest Model summary
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. Examples of potential conflicts of interest include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding. Authors should complete the declaration of compe…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' (see more information on this). An e-mail will be sent to the corresponding author confirming receipt of the manuscript together with a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' form or a link to the online version of this agreement.Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles includ…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Please visit our Open Access page for more information about open access publishing in this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Plagiarism CrossCheck (iThenticate)
Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract, a published lecture or academic thesis, see 'Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication' for more information), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible aut…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprint references
Where a preprint has subsequently become available as a peer-reviewed publication, the formal publication should be used as the reference. If there are preprints that are central to your work or that cover crucial developments in the topic, but are not yet formally published, these may be referenced. Preprints should be clearly marked as such, for example by including the word preprint, or the nam…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc.
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1957
- ISSN
- 0010-2180
- Electronic ISSN
- 1556-2921
- Society / sponsor
- Combustion Institute
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Combustion and Flame
What CAS zone is Combustion and Flame in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Combustion and Flame is in Zone 1 of Engineering, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Engineering, Chemical / Engineering, Mechanical / Engineering, Multidisciplinary / Thermodynamics / Energy & Fuels; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Engineering. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Combustion and Flame?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.87; CiteScore 11.4, h-index 269.
How long does peer review take at Combustion and Flame?
The publisher reports about 136 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 6 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly hard”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Combustion and Flame?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 100–300 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX and Word; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Combustion and Flame based?
Of the 34 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (14), France (6) and Italy (5). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Combustion and Flame?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Combustion and Flame is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Combustion and Flame open access, and what is the APC?
Combustion and Flame is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,320.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .