Journal profile · Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
ISSN 0022-5096 · eISSN 1873-4782 · Elsevier Ltd · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1952
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids: CAS Zone 2 · Engineering (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 6.23; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,220; review about 112 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly hard (Elsevier website: 65%); 372 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 2 of Engineering in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Composite Material Mechanics, Numerical methods in engineering and Microstructure and mechanical properties, together about 26.3% of its articles. Its main subfields are Mechanics of Materials and Materials Chemistry. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal was founded in 1952 by Rodney Hill, who was its Editor-in-Chief until 1968. It continues to enjoy a pre-eminent position in the field of solid mechanics.The Journal aims to publish research of the highest quality and lasting significance on the mechanics of solids. Its scope is broad, ranging from fundamental mechanics concepts to analysing novel phenomena and applications.Solids are interpreted broadly and include natural and synthetic materials and structures. The approach can be theoretical, experimental, or computational. This research activity sits within engineering science and at the nexus between the allied areas of mathematics, material science, chemistry, biology, and physics.The Journal's main purpose is to foster a scientific understanding of all issues impacting the mechanical response of solid materials and their relations to the underlying microstructure and physical mechanisms. Its content reflects the current state of the discipline in analysis, experimental observation, numerical simulation, and data analysis.Authors are encouraged to consider the significance of their contributions to the field of mechanics and the implications of their results, in addition to describing the details of their work.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Editorial board by country: 8 in mainland China (about 14%); most named United States 30, Mainland China 8, France 7, United Kingdom 5, India 2 (59 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Composite Material MechanicsEngineering9.1%
- Numerical methods in engineeringEngineering9%
- Microstructure and mechanical propertiesMaterials Science8.3%
- Elasticity and Material ModelingEngineering8.1%
- High-Velocity Impact and Material BehaviorMaterials Science6.2%
- Metal Forming Simulation TechniquesEngineering5.5%
- Fatigue and fracture mechanicsEngineering4.7%
- Advanced Materials and MechanicsEngineering4.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Mechanics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Physics, Condensed Matter | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Mechanics | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Physics, Condensed Matter | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Materials Science, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Mechanics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Physics, Condensed Matter | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview 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
- 6.23LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 6.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 10LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 10Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.77LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.69LetPub ·
- h-index
- 150LetPub ·
- h-index
- 295OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,654OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 7.29OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 9.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 29.29%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 340LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 7,801 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 309 | 162 | 216 |
| 2025 | 372 | 201 | 2,181 |
| 2024 | 408 | 222 | 5,540 |
| 2023 | 265 | 160 | 5,157 |
| 2022 | 292 | 178 | 7,015 |
| 2021 | 277 | 165 | 8,242 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
Too few articlesOnly 1 articles from the last 24 months carry both submission and acceptance dates, too few for a median
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- 4–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 65%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 51 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 112 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher 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 4,220 / EUR 3,950 / GBP 3,380 / JPY 523,410 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,340 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
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 prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Required
- Cover letter
- Optional
Article types accepted9
- editorialContributions to the journal are primarily unsolicited, original, high-quality research papers that meet the above-mentioned aims and scope. Occasionally, the e…Length not stated
- letterContributions to the journal are primarily unsolicited, original, high-quality research papers that meet the above-mentioned aims and scope. Occasionally, the e…Length not stated
- perspectiveContributions to the journal are primarily unsolicited, original, high-quality research papers that meet the above-mentioned aims and scope. Occasionally, the e…Length not stated
- perspective or review articles(i) Perspective or review articles designed to provide critical insights into an emerging new area and/or a topic of considerable current interest.Length not stated
- research paperContributions to the journal are primarily unsolicited, original, high-quality research papers that meet the above-mentioned aims and scope. Occasionally, the e…Length not stated
- reviewContributions to the journal are primarily unsolicited, original, high-quality research papers that meet the above-mentioned aims and scope. Occasionally, the e…Length not stated
- review articleContributions to the journal are primarily unsolicited, original, high-quality research papers that meet the above-mentioned aims and scope. Occasionally, the e…Length not stated
- tutorialContributions to the journal are primarily unsolicited, original, high-quality research papers that meet the above-mentioned aims and scope. Occasionally, the e…Length not stated
- tutorial articles(ii) Tutorial articles that help readers gain high-level insights into critical areas of solid mechanics where the literature has yet to converge on a clear and…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
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 Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Journal Specific Peer Review Details:
Single anonymized review process Model summary
The manuscript and cover letter (if included) will be made available to the Editor and Associate Editors who will decide whether the article may be appropriate for JMPS. The Editor and/or Associate Editors may reject the paper without further review or elect to have it sent to reviewers. The identity of the handling Editor will be revealed to you only if the paper is approved for publication. The …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
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 Ltd
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1952
- ISSN
- 0022-5096
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-4782
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
What CAS zone is Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids is in Zone 2 of Engineering, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Materials Science, Multidisciplinary / Mechanics / Physics, Condensed Matter. 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 Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 6.23; CiteScore 10, h-index 295.
How long does peer review take at Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids?
The publisher reports about 112 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of 4–8 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly hard (Elsevier website: 65%)”. 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 Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Author–date; Templates: LaTeX and Word; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Required; Cover letter: Optional. 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 Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids based?
Of the 59 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 8 (about 14%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (30), Mainland China (8) and France (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,220.
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: .