The Research and Editorial Office of
Professor Barry H.V. Topping

Manuscript Preparation

• Language
  
• Structure
  
• Text Layout
  
• Abstract
  
• Keywords
  
• Units
  
• Maths
  
• References
  
• Tables

Language
English (see Oxford English Dictionary)

Structure
Follow this order when typing manuscripts: Title, Authors, Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords, Main text, Acknowledgments, Appendix, References, Vitae, Figure Captions and then Tables. Collate acknowledgements in a separate section at the end of the article and do not include them on the title page, as a footnote to the title or otherwise.

Text Layout
Use double spacing and wide (3 cm) margins. (Avoid full justification, that is, do not use a constant right-hand margin.) Ensure that each new paragraph is clearly indicated. Present tables and figures in the main text, shortly after they are first mentioned. Number all pages consecutively. Use 12 or 10 pt font size and standard fonts.

Please do not use options such as automatic word breaking, justified layout, double columns or automatic paragraph numbering. When preparing tables, if you are using a table grid, please use only one grid for each separate table and not a grid for each row. If no grid is being used, use tabs to align columns instead of spaces.

Abstract
Enclose a self-contained abstract outlining the aims, scope and conclusions of the paper. The abstract should make it clear why the paper is of sufficient importance to be published in an archival journal. It should be a single paragraph and not exceed 100 words.

Keywords
Immediately following the abstract, provide a maximum of six keywords (avoid, for example, 'and', 'of'). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible.

Units
Follow internationally accepted rules and conventions: use the international system of units (SI). If other quantities are mentioned, give their equivalent in SI.

Maths
Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed, separately from the text (if referred to explicitly in the text). Mathematical symbols and formulae should be typed. Particular care should be exercised in identifying all symbols and in avoiding ambiguities. Distinction should be made between the number one (1) and letter l, and between the number zero (0) and the letter O. Equation numbers should appear in parentheses and be numbered consecutively. All equation numbers must appear on the right-hand side of the equation and should be referred to within the text. Use the following sequence of parentheses: ) ] }.

References
All publications cited in the text should be presented in a list of references following the text of the manuscript.
[1] Haftka RT, Rdal GZ, Kamat MP. Elements of structural optimization. London: Kluwer Academic, 1990.
[2] Pollock GD, Noor AK. Sensitivity analysis of the contact/impact response of composite structures. Computers & Structures, 61(2):251-269, 1996.
[3] Banichuk NK. Application of perturbation method to optimal design of structures. In: Atrek E, Gallagher RH, Ragsdell KM, Zienkiewicz OC, editors. New directions in optimum structural design. New York: John Wiley, 1984.
[4] Cojocaru EC, Irschik H, Schlacher K. Elastically supported beam carrying a beam moving at constant speed. In: Grundmann, Schueller, editors. Proceedings of Structural Dynamics, EURODYN 2003. Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema; 2002.
[5] Rajasekar A, Semantics for logic programs, Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, 1989.

Tables
Tables should be numbered consecutively and given suitable caption. No vertical rules should be used. Tables should not duplicate results presented elsewhere in the manuscript (for example, in graphs). Footnotes to tables should be typed below the table and should be referred to by superscript lowercase letters.