Get your Journal of Bridge Engineering paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4.5
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 17 August, 2026
Submitting to Journal of Bridge Engineering goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Journal of Bridge Engineering guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Journal of Bridge Engineering. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Journal of Bridge Engineering journal page before you draft.
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Journal of Bridge Engineering guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Journal of Bridge Engineering guide for authors before you submit.
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through the journal's submission system.
| Element | J Bridge Eng requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Single paragraph, 150-175 words. Must be written in plain language and include a summary of key conclusions. Should clearly state: purpose of the work, scope of the effort, procedures used, and major findings. Mathematics and references are not permitted in the abstract. Authors should include applicable keywords for online searchability. No separate structured abstract requirements are specified by article type |
| Main text | Technical Papers: maximum 30 double-spaced manuscript pages (including references, figures, tables, appendices, captions). Technical Notes: maximum 7 pages. Case Studies: maximum 30 pages. State-of-the-Art Reviews: maximum 45 pages. Data Papers: maximum 30 pages. Discussions: maximum 4 pages. Book Reviews: maximum 3 pages. Editorials: usually not exceeding 4 pages. Forums: maximum 8 pages. All limits include references, figures, tables, appendices, and captions where applicable |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | The guide mentions that authors should include applicable keywords in/for the abstract to aid online searchability, but no specific count, range, or format (MeSH, editor-assigned, etc.) is explicitly stated in the official guidelines. Keywords should be those likely used during an online search |
| References | ASCE uses the author-date method for in-text references (e.g., Smith 2004 or Smith and Jones 2004). References section lists all references alphabetically by last name of first author. For ASCE journals, the format is: Authors. (Year). 'Title.' Journal abbr., DOI, CID/page range. Full formatting examples provided for books, proceedings, standards, and other source types in the guide |
| Peer review | Technical papers, notes, and case studies must be reviewed by at least two competent reviewers. The editor must receive an agreeing review from one reviewer to render a decision. The specific peer review model (single-blind, double-blind, or open) is not explicitly stated in the official ASCE author guidelines or journal page |
| Submission | ascelibrary.org/submit/jbenf2 |
Read the Journal of Bridge Engineering guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Journal of Bridge Engineering in under a page.
Skim two or three recent J Bridge Eng papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Journal of Bridge Engineering journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Journal of Bridge Engineering guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the journal's submission system.