Sections / Section Editors

Domen Šeruga, PhD
Section editor SV-JME

Assoc. Prof.
University of Ljubljana,
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Slovenia

Section: Structural Design

Aim & Scope

The Structural Design section welcomes research and review papers dedicated to all structural and mechanical engineering fields, such as automotive, aerospace, and agricultural areas, domestic appliances, testing equipment or special-purpose components, etc. This section is a medium for communicating the newest findings in geometry, material, or manufacturing process-related influences on the design of mechanical systems. Articles explaining the operation of mechanisms, behavior of machine elements and mechanical structures, simulations of structural behavior, predictions of damage, analysis of safety, and design of mechanical systems should be supported by clear derivation of governing equations, working principles, and validations. Experimentally gained data should have a clearly given procedure, and the statistical analysis of experimental results is strongly encouraged. Authors are invited to provide access to experimental data, algorithms, and simulations used in articles with the intention of clarity and repeating the published study.

Articles dealing with the following topics are of special interest to the Structural Design section:

• New design methods, analysis of design structure matrix, design for new technologies (e.g. additive manufacturing-specific features), design for assembly (e.g. joining of composites with conventional technologies);
• Structural design with a focus on product lifetime, fatigue, thermo-mechanical fatigue, creep, and wear;
• Determination of operational loads under variable mechanical or thermo-mechanical conditions, damage predictions, reliability analysis of mechanical systems, and random failures of structures;
• New material models, and consideration of various influences in the design process, e.g. manufacturing process, hardness, temperature, corrosion or wear; material parameters representing the influences;
• Multiscale modelling (synergy, influence and consideration of macroscopic, mezoscopic and microscopic influence on structural design);
• Design optimization;
• Design for maintenance, ergonomics, and aesthetics.

Keywords: Design methods; Conceptual design; Design for new technologies; Design for manufacturing; Design for assembly; Design for maintenance; Design for ergonomics and aesthetics; Design for safety; Mechanisms; Materials; Material models; Material parameters; Multiscale modelling; Operational loads; Reliability of mechanical systems; Fatigue; Creep; Wear; Optimization; Design algorithms; and others 

Matej Borovinšek, PhD
Section editor SV-JME

Assist. Prof.
University of Maribor,
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Slovenia

Section: Mechanics 

Aim & Scope

The Mechanics section welcomes research and review papers dedicated to all areas of theoretical, experimental, and computational mechanics, including topics relevant to engineering applications such as aerospace, automotive, civil, biomedical, and energy systems. This section serves as a medium for communicating new insights into the mechanics of materials, structures, fluids, and their interactions, supported by rigorous mathematical formulations, computational approaches, and experimental validation. Contributions should clearly derive and present the governing equations, explain working principles, and include validations through simulations or experiments. Experimental studies should provide detailed procedures, and statistical analysis of the results is strongly encouraged. Authors are invited to share experimental data, computational algorithms, and simulation models to promote transparency and reproducibility of their findings.

Articles addressing the following topics are of particular interest to the Mechanics section:

• Continuum mechanics: studies on stress, strain, and the behavior of materials under various loading conditions, including elasticity, plasticity, and viscoelasticity;
• Fracture and failure mechanics: analysis of crack initiation and propagation, fatigue, creep, and material degradation under mechanical or thermo-mechanical loading;
• Fluid mechanics: research on fluid flow dynamics, turbulence modeling, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and fluid-structure interactions;
• Computational mechanics: development and application of numerical methods and multiscale modeling techniques;
• Mechanics of materials: investigation of the mechanical properties of traditional and advanced materials, including smart materials, composites, and metamaterials;
• Dynamic and vibrational analysis: studies on the behavior of systems under dynamic loads, including modal analysis, damping, and wave propagation;
• Optimization and design in mechanics: contributions focusing on the optimization of mechanical systems for performance, reliability, and sustainability;
• Biomechanics and emerging fields: mechanics applications in biological systems, soft robotics, and other cutting-edge technologies.

Keywords: Solid mechanics; Structural mechanics; Damage mechanics; Fracture mechanics; Contact mechanics; Fluid mechanics; Continuum mechanics; Computational mechanics; Experimental mechanics; Biomechanics; Mechanics of materials; Rigid body dynamics; Nonlinear dynamics; Elasticity and plasticity; Multiscale modelling; Structural optimization; and others

Dominik Kozjek, PhD
Section editor SV-JME

Assist. Prof.
University of Ljubljana,
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Slovenia

Section: Mechatronics

Aim & Scope

Mechanical engineering, especially the subfield of Mechatronics, is undergoing a major transformation due to the intensive development of information and communication technologies, as well as due to persistent developments in actuator, sensor, and power supply systems. Improved and novel microchip technologies, such as new generations of microprocessors, FPGAs, utilization of processing technologies that enable massive parallel processing, database systems enabling increasingly faster management of vast amounts of data, novel sensor systems, novel communication technologies, almost daily groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence on the algorithmic and algorithm-implementation level, and novel/advanced concepts like digital twins, edge computing, and multiagent systems, bring a great deal of opportunities as well as challenges and responsibilities in the future advancements of mechatronics. The JME journal publishes original research and review articles on applications and further development of those novel concepts and technologies in the field of mechatronics and mechanical engineering in general. The emphasis is on an interdisciplinary approach (mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, data science, physics, and other fields) and on the justified, safe, and transparent use of those novel concepts and technologies in mechanical engineering.

Articles dealing with the following topics are of special interest to the Mechatronics section:

• Improved control of processes and systems by utilizing advantages provided by novel IT technologies and artificial intelligence;
• Mobile and industrial robotics, including fleet and swarm management;
• Improved sensor systems utilizing novel IT technologies and artificial intelligence;
• Distributed control and multiagent systems;
• Digital twins, including modeling and simulation for purposes of control, monitoring, and maintenance of digital twin systems;
• Justified, robust, safe, and interpretable applications of artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering.

Keywords: Mechatronic systems; Control; Automatization; Sensing technologies; Robotics; Multi-robot systems; Fleet management & swarm robotics; Multiagent systems; Communication; Digital twin; Modeling; Simulation; Edge computing; Parallel processing; Artificial intelligence; Machine learning; Intelligent systems; Data management; Safety; Fault diagnostics; and others

Simon Klančnik, PhD
Section editor SV-JME

Assoc. Prof.
University of Maribor,
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Slovenia

Section: Production Engineering

Aim & Scope

The Production Engineering section welcomes research and review papers dedicated to all fields of manufacturing and production systems, including traditional machining processes, digital manufacturing, and advanced Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 technologies. This section serves as a medium for presenting the latest advancements in the design, development, optimization, and digitalization of manufacturing systems. It addresses topics that bridge traditional methods and cutting-edge innovations, such as digital twins, artificial intelligence, machine vision, and advanced robotics.

Papers in this section should provide clear explanations of methodologies, algorithms, and processes, supported by experiments, simulations, and statistical analysis where applicable. Authors are encouraged to include detailed experimental procedures, share data sets, and ensure reproducibility of their findings. Submissions that integrate traditional manufacturing approaches with state-of-the-art technologies are highly valued, as are contributions that address sustainability and human-centric production paradigms.

Articles dealing with the following topics are of particular interest to the Production Engineering section:

• New approaches to production planning, manufacturing optimization, and digitalization
• Integration of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 technologies in manufacturing processes
• Applications of artificial intelligence, machine vision, and smart sensors in production systems
• Development and implementation of digital twins for real-time production monitoring and control
• Use of augmented and virtual reality in manufacturing processes
• Advancements in additive manufacturing and 3D printing for production engineering
• Sustainability, ergonomics, and human-centric designs in production systems
• Reliability and maintenance planning for production equipment
• Development of cyber-physical systems and industrial IoT applications in smart factories

Keywords: Production Engineering; Industry 4.0; Industry 5.0; Machining Processes; Digital Manufacturing; Additive Manufacturing; Machine Vision; Artificial Intelligence; Digital Twins; Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT); Sustainable Manufacturing; Smart Factories; Production Optimization; Automation in Production; Cyber-Physical Systems; Augmented and Virtual Reality in Manufacturing; Design for Maintenance; Reliability of Production Systems; and others

Jaka Tušek, PhD
Section editor SV-JME

Assist. Prof.
University of Ljubljana,
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Slovenia

Section: Process and Thermal Engineering

Aim & Scope

The Process and Thermal Engineering section welcomes research and review papers dedicated to all fields of process and thermal engineering and energy technologies, focusing on the fundamental principles, design innovations, and real-world applications of thermal processes across diverse industries. This section stands as a medium for communication of the newest findings in the generation, transfer, utilization and management of heat and energy. We publish articles from basic thermodynamic, fluid mechanics and heat transfer science towards more applicative studies on heat exchanger design, refrigeration and heat pump systems, solar energy systems, boiling and condensation, thermal management, etc. This section welcomes research on renewable energy systems, where alternative and non-common energy technologies are of particular interest. Interdisciplinary articles that impact and interfere with adjacent subfields of mechanical engineering are also welcome.

Articles dealing with the following topics are of special interest to the Process and Thermal Engineering section:

• New design methods, analysis and optimization of components, devices, and systems such as heat exchangers, heat pumps, cooling and refrigeration systems, heat pipes, energy storage devices, power plants, and other systems crucial for process and thermal engineering applications;
• Renewable and clean energy technologies, including solar-thermal systems, energy storage solutions, thermal management and the integration of renewable energy sources into conventional energy systems;
• Alternative energy technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions through innovative thermal engineering solutions;
• Energy production, storage, utilization, management, and conservation in both industrial and building process and thermal engineering applications;
• Economic assessments of thermal engineering projects.

Keywords: Design methods; Thermodynamics; Heat transfer; Fluid mechanics; Heat exchangers; Convective heat transfer, Refrigeration; Heat pump; Combustion; Solar energy systems; Boiling; Condensation; Renewable energy systems; Thermal management; Phase change materials; Energy conversion; Thermal systems design; HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning); Temperature control; Geothermal energy; Waste heat recovery; and others

Luka Lešnik, PhD
Section editor SV-JME

Assist. Prof.
University of Maribor,
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,
Slovenia

Section: Power Engineering

Aim & Scope

The Power Engineering section welcomes research and review papers dedicated to all fields related to new methods of various energy sources utilization, and optimization of existing systems in power engineering and engineering at large. This section stands as a medium for communication of the newest findings and methods in energy production from renewable and fossil sources, waste-to-fuel conversion, measurements and numerical simulations, life cycle analyses, sustainability, circular economy, and other topics related to power engineering. The journal SV-JME and Power Engineering section provide a platform for scientists and researchers to publish scientific works addressing all key topics in power engineering. Articles based on numerical modelling should be supported by clear derivation of governing equations, working principles, mesh independence study and validations. Experimentally gained data should have a clearly given procedure, and the statistical analysis of experimental results is strongly encouraged. Authors are invited to provide access to experimental data, algorithms and simulations used in papers with the intention of clarity and repeating the published study.

Articles dealing with the following topics are of special interest to the Power Engineering section:

• Presentation of new method for various energy sources utilization and optimization of existing systems or system components;
• Production and utilization of different fuels for thermal machines and transportation;
• Numerical studies, optimization studies and studies of digital twins in power engineering;
• New mechanisms and new design methods (models) presentation for specific section of power engineering (like cavitation);
• Life cycle analyses, sustainability and green transition. 

Keywords: energy; renewable energy sources; fuels; sustainable aviation fuels (SAF); waste-derived fuels (WDF); combustion; thermal machines; hydraulic machines; cavitation; emissions; transport; CFD; fluid mechanics; digital twins; process parameters; sustainability; life cycle analyses (LCA); green transition; and others